KEY POINTS:
The brilliance of jockey Noel Harris clinched a narrow but well-deserved victory for Figure Of Speech in the $65,000 Taumarunui Cup at Te Rapa.
The in-form Figure Of Speech had to be good to win the listed event as the 5-year-old was carrying the topweight of 57kg and
started from a wide barrier in the 2100m event.
Harris produced a clinical display of race riding yesterday, punching the Cambridge-trained star forward to secure a sit close to the speed and they powered into a challenging position on the hometurn.
Figure Of Speech fought on in determined style, lasting to win by a neck over the fast-closing Cape Kinaveral with a further three lengths back to Western Line (third)
"It was a genius ride from the wide draw with the big weight as I was worried about the horse getting caught wide during the early stages of the race," said Figure Of Speech's trainer Ross McCarroll after the race.
"Noel [Harris] got him across easily and they had a beautiful run and it's always pleasing to win a great race like this. I had the horse ready to go a big race here at Te Rapa.
"He wasn't at peak fitness in his last start at Ruakaka as it was a race that wasn't originally in my plans and it was really an after-thought."
Figure Of Speech has a useful record on the left-handed track at Hamilton, scoring three wins and one minor placing from eight starts. He is also a 2100m specialist over which he has three wins and two placings.
* Bruce Herd took no chances with hot favourite Special Mission, punching the favourite straight to the front and out of trouble to win the $50,000 Ryder Stakes at Otaki.
The Mark Walker-trained filly has a high cruising speed and had the opposition in trouble halfway down the home stretch striding clear to win by two lengths over Go Danny.
A further half-length away in third was Agavero.
The daughter of Towkay is a highly talented sprint athlete who has fashioned an imposing record in a short career.
Special Mission was unbeaten in two trial outings before posting an impressive debut victory at Matamata and carried plenty of support into yesterday's listed event.
Walker has developed an impressive record with young racing stock and Special Mission should carry that form forward into her upcoming 3-year-old season.
The race was marred when the second favourite, Panesar, broke down during the running and the gelding was humanely put down by veterinary surgeons.