Racing: Calveen slays rivals

Leading jockey Leith Innes should not have taken a winning ride fee from Calveen following the running of the Gasmate Stakes at Te Rapa yesterday.

The manner of the victory was so impressive and effortless you got the impression that Innes was more of a passenger as opposed to a jockey at the top of his game when handling the favourite.

Calveen was beautifully positioned handy to the leaders throughout the running of the $40,000 Group Three event and unleashed one of the most staggering displays of sprint finishing speed witnessed on a New Zealand racetrack this season.

When Innes pulled out and balanced Calveen in the home stretch and asked her to sprint the Canny Lad-sired four-year-old mare reeled in the leaders and accelerated away from the opposition in a matter of three to four strides.

Innes eased Calveen down at the finish to win by 3 3/4 lengths over a gallant front running Filey.

Belle Femme battled gamely to finish third a further 1 1/2 lengths away.

The Lance O'Sullivan-trained mare had produced a similar, staggering display of speed to win her last start, at Ellerslie against fillies and mares.

A typically conservative O'Sullivan was quick to pass all credit for the staggering turnaround of form produced this season by Calveen to his brother, Paul.

"Paul was adamant before he shifted to Hong Kong to train that Calveen was going to be the stable star this season and his judgment is spot on," said Lance O'Sullivan.

"All this mare has needed is time to mature into a racehorse and that's exactly what we have done.

"She's got a real sharp turn of speed and today she won with a fair bit in hand which is very pleasing.

"She'll race in the big mile race on the last day of the Auckland Cup Carnival at Ellerslie and then we may take her to Trentham for the Thorndon Mile.

"She's a very exciting galloper to have in the stable and she's one reason why I get out of bed every morning to train my racehorses."

Calveen has scored six wins and three minor placings from 14 starts.

If the four-year-old can maintain this devastating form at Ellerslie and Trentham, rival trainers may look elsewhere to race their stable stars.