Racing: Familiarity breeds contentment

South Auckland-trained pair American Gothic and My Lips Ar Sealed found the return to the familiar Ellerslie environment right to their liking on Saturday.

Both horses were well beaten second favourites at last weekend's Awapuni meeting.

My Lips Ar Sealed was a distant ninth in a premier quality sprint and American Gothic finished fifth of nine in the Parliamentary Handicap.

"I don't know about left-handed racing with him," said co-trainer Bob Vance as Gary Grylls brought My Lips Ar Sealed back to scale after taking the Rennels Jewellers & Engravers 1200.

"Mind you, he's done most of his racing up here so in fairness he hasn't had a lot of practice the other way round."

The rising seven-year-old had in fact just completed his fourteenth Ellerslie start from a career total of 24. He had won only one of those previous 13 on the track, but had also compiled 10 minor placings.

Owner John Wells, who is also deputy chairman of the Auckland Racing Club, was absent from proceedings, having opted for a Fiji holiday.

One owner on hand, however, to cheer his horse home was Hong Kong visitor Danny Wong, who races American Gothic under his Brookby Stables banner.

It was not his first visit to New Zealand's premier racecourse, but the first time he had had the privilege of witnessing his European import at the top of his game there.

Three starts back in the Cornwall Handicap the son of Shirley Heights had been thwarted by Shanamann from completing a hat-trick of wins.

His trainer these days, Steve Cooper, has made a superb job of reviving the career of a horse that was once touted as a Melbourne Cup prospect.

"That will probably be it for now," said Cooper on Saturday. "He's had a busy winter and we're thrilled with what he's achieved, so maybe it's now time for a bit of a rest."

American Gothic, who comfortably beat favourite Luck's A Fortune in the Phillips Fox 2100, is the only current New Zealand racehorse Cooper prepares for his employer.

The Englishman is kept busy, however, preparing and assessing others before deciding whether to send them to Australia, Hong Kong or Macau.

A recent stint in Macau led to Australian jockey Gavin McKeon gaining the mount on American Gothic.

His only two wins there were on the Wong-owned Nasty Jester, making him a natural choice when he became available for Saturday's mount.

McKeon, who formed an unbeaten association with classy three-year-old Seachange last summer, has taken no time to hit his straps again.

Saturday's was his third win since returning less than a fortnight ago and he is hoping to shortly renew his partnership with Seachange, who had an exhibition gallop at Hawera on Saturday in preference to resuming on the heavy track.

Saturday's racing at Ellerslie also marked a return to form for Pukekohe gelding Lazaros, putting him back in contention for the $100,000 Winter Cup at Riccarton on August 5.

Trainer Don Dwyer had been concerned that a disappointing two-start Melbourne campaign might have derailed Winter Cup plans, but Saturday's win in the Swiss Deli 1400 put them firmly back on track.

"Nothing went right in Melbourne," said Dwyer. "He drew off the track at the worst possible spot, 1400 metres, at Flemington and it wasn't much better at Sandown last week.

"I just hope this win lifts his rating enough to guarantee a start at Riccarton."

The good news for Dwyer is that Lazaros earned five rating points on Saturday, elevating him from the mid-twenties to thirteenth equal in the Winter Cup entry list.

Premiership leaders Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge were all that prevented Trevor McKee from signing off from his favourite track on a winning note on Saturday.

On the same day that he confirmed he will not be renewing his trainers' licence, 67-year-old McKee saddled up his last Ellerslie runner Quartze to finish second to the Rogerson-Autridge-trained Cape Kinaveral in the Northern Cluster Stayers' Final.

The win by the Cape Cross three-year-old took their trainers' tally to 87, edging them ahead of Mark Walker by one, as the season heads for an exciting finish this weekend.