Racing: Dream comes true on first Group ride

Buddy Lammas will never forget his first ride in a Group-ranked race in New Zealand.

The Matamata-based apprentice took centre stage over older brother Cameron at Rotorua yesterday.

Buddy Lammas timed his sprint finish to perfection with veteran mare Convincing when the pair combined to score a narrow but impressive victory in the $100,000 (Group Three) First Sovereign Trust Rotorua Cup.

Convincing accelerated down the outside of the Arawa Park track to gun down the gallant pace-setting Kajema by a half-head with a further neck back to Madame Shinko (third).

The 7-year-old mare had to be good to win the 2300 metre event as she set a track record in the process of out-sprinting a quality field.

Lammas could not hide his delight after the race.

"This is my first ride in a Group race and winning's the sort of thing you dream about doing when you're an apprentice jockey," said Lammas.

"She's a lovely big mare and has a wicked sprint finish when you can relax her off the speed, and she was flying over that last 50 metres.

"I've ridden her once before and that was in her last-start when we won at Te Aroha and hopefully Mr Miller [part-owner and trainer Owen Miller] will let me ride her again.

"They were running along pretty strongly in front and I wasn't sure if we'd catch the leader at the top of the home straight when he kicked on the field. My mare really stretched out once I balanced her up and chased her along."

Convincing has been in outstanding form - this win completing a hat-trick - and has the career record of seven wins and 13 placings from 47 starts.

Intense family competition was underlined in the final event when Buddy Lammas kicked home favourite Bellaforte to score a half-head victory over brother Cameron and Seventh Heaven.

DISGRACED JOCKEY Lisa Cropp was back doing what she does best - winning races - at Rotorua yesterday.

New Zealand's champion jockey for the 2004-2005 season made it 152 wins to date when combining with the Mike and Paul Moroney-trained Frothy to take out the opening event.

It was a classic ride from Cropp who timed her challenge to perfection to win by a half length over Marji with the same margin back to Quartze (third).

Cropp was stood down from her riding engagements at Hawera on Thursday after testing positive to methamphetamine in a urine sample taken from her at the Waikato Racing Club's meeting at Te Rapa last Saturday.

However a second urine sample provided by Cropp was given the all-clear on Friday and a medical report from her doctor was approved by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's medical officer.

Cropp was cleared on Friday to ride at Rotorua if any rides became available.

STEPHEN AUTRIDGE was quick to pass all the credit for Enthralling's impressive victory onto jockey Mark Hills.

The 3-year-old Volksraad-sired filly secured a dream on the pace sit and lengthened stride effortlessly at the top of the home straight to gather in the leaders easing down at the finish to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Samurai and Hotspurs (third).

"I've got to give Mark a huge pat on the back because it was a great ride from him getting her home after starting from the outside gate," said Autridge.

"We'd discussed the fact before the race that if he could jump her out and give her a soft sit close to the pace that she had the late speed to finish over the top of the leaders.

"I knew as soon as he got her one off the fence that she was going to be a winning chance and that's another win on the board in terms of the New Zealand Trainers Premiership.

"We're now on 71 wins and are 11 clear of Michael Pitman and I'm marking those dates off the calendar counting down to July 31.

"Enthralling is a very good little filly who does love the sting out of the track. Her record on an easy track is four wins from six starts and I was surprised that the public let her pay $17 today.

"She'll have one more start in another 3-year-old fillies race then she'll most probably head out for a well-deserved break. I'll keep her going until the really bad winter weather hits the Auckland-Waikato area."

The gamble for Autridge and senior co-trainer Graeme Rogerson nearly paid off with 2-year-old filly Vegas Showgirl in the $40,000 (Listed) Weight-For-Age Rotorua Stakes.

Vegas Showgirl had only 45 kilograms on her back under the weight-for-age scale and was gunned down in the final 50 metres by the fast finishing Macavelli Miss, who won the event by three-quarters of a length.

"It was well worth the exercise of starting her in this race as she's now placed in a listed event and it was her last-start before heading to the spelling paddock.

"She'll come back into training and will be set for the early season 3-year-old fillies events next season."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY