KEY POINTS:
Kevin Gray enjoys training racehorses bred by Matamata-based Waikato Stud as punters found out again yesterday in the $325,000 1000 Guineas at Riccarton.
Palmerston North-based Gray is one of the most respected trainers in New Zealand and has developed an outstanding strike rate with racing stock from Waikato
Stud.
The No Excuse Needed-sired
Daffodil showed impeccable racing manners and a blistering turn of foot to gun down the favourite Juice in the New Zealand Bloodstock-sponsored Group One feature for 3-year-old fillies.
Daffodil was patiently ridden by Hayden Tinsley, sitting behind the pace-setting Sub Prime and, with 200m to go, lengthened stride to reel in Juice defeating this runner by a length with a further 1 lengths back to Awesome Planet (third).
Tinsley obviously knows how good Daffodil is as the jockey allowed Juice and Leith Innes to sprint to the lead early in the home stretch before asking his charge to chase them. Yesterday was the second time Tinsley has ridden the filly.
"It's a great thrill to win a Group One and particularly with such great owners involved as they've being very good to me," Gray said.
"She's a great filly to train and rates up there with Legs as one of the better horses I have trained.
"Hayden rode her very well and everything fell into place nicely and she really tore into it when asked for an effort to chase Juice."
Legs was good enough to win the New Zealand Oaks and Kelt Capital Stakes and, given the effortless fashion with which Daffodil handled the 1600m feature it would not surprise to see her follow a similar racing programme under the guidance of Gray.
Juice raced three deep on the inner but did not help her chances midway down the home stretch when appearing to change stride although nothing could be taken away from the ruthless sprint finish produced by the winner.
JOHN WHEELER won the Metropolitan Trophy-New Zealand Cup double at Riccarton in 2006 with Pentathon.
Wheeler produced Stand Tall yesterday to comfortably win the $75,000 Metropolitan Trophy and gets into next Saturday's $250,000 (Group Two) New Zealand Cup with only 52.5kg on his back.
Judging by the ease with which Stand Tall won the Metropolitan, it will take a top staying performance to deny the son of Zabeel another victory.
MICHAEL COLEMAN was in commanding form at Te Rapa yesterday winning five races _ four for various Matamata trainers.
Tootsie was impressive, unleashing a blistering sprint down the outer of the track in the home stretch to catch the pace-setting Magic Tryst to win by a length with a further 2 lengths back to Shinko Bay (third).
The Mike and Paul Moroney-trained 4-year-old has six wins and three minor placings from 12 starts and will not be difficult to place over the Christmas period in the Auckland-Waikato area.
Coleman's other wins were aboard Katie Lee, Due Diligence, Dementieva and Ruud Van Slaats.