Racing: Don Domingo swoops to win cup

Don Domingo responded well yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell

Graham Richardson added a Group Three victory to the resume of up and coming stayer Don Domingo who over powered a strong field to win the $70,000 Hawke's Bay Gold Cup at Hastings yesterday.

However $26 outsider Seaflyte had appeared to be home for the victory midway down the home stretch but then ducked inwards badly hitting the inside rail and losing jockey Patrick Holmes.

Don Domingo then responded to an aggressive ride by Masa Tanaka scoring by three-quarters of a length over Better Together with a further nose back to Dawn Ghost (third).

The 6-Year-Old son of Don Eduardo was in produced in faultless physical condition by Richardson for a testing outing over 2200m.

"This horse has just kept on improving with maturity and it's always great winning a Group race," said Richardson after the race.

"I knew my horse was fit and ready for a big test today and he certainly got that. The Seaflyte incident when hitting the rail close to the finishing line and losing his chance certainly made things easier for us but we were winding into the race nicely when that happened."

Former age group star St Germaine bounced back to winning form impressively in the hands of New Zealand's leading jockey James McDonald. St Germaine was an age group sensation for Matamata trainer John Sargent and showed a blistering turn of foot in testing conditions scoring by 2 lengths over Starguru with a further half-neck back to Klose (third).

"It's great to have her back in winning form and it was a very impressive winning performance today," said Sargent.

Mae Jinx is a potent sprinter when allowed to control the tempo of a race as punters found out at Hastings yesterday.

The 4-Year-Old daughter of Stravinsky was rated to perfection by Michael Coleman scoring clearly over Redessi and O'Cartier.

The 4-Year-Old has now had four wins and six minor placings from 19 starts.