Racing: Front runner just holds on

Michael Coleman did not panic when in front during the early stages of the $200,000 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes with The Heckler and reaped Group One winning glory at Awapuni yesterday.

The Heckler drew wide in the 1400m feature and the Matamata-based jockey had no intention of leading but the gelding's exceptional early speed pushed them in front and under no pressure from the opposition.

This race was dominated by on-speed runners with The Heckler kicking away with 100m remaining and lasting in gritty fashion to hold out the fast-closing St Fevre by a short head. St Germaine stuck on well to finish a further 2 lengths away third.

Corsage caught the eye with a powerful late sprint to finish fifth. She did not help her chances in the home stretch when ducking outwards badly while trying to push through a gap.

"From the wide draw I wanted to get out and over and get a slot in somewhere close to the speed but we ended up in front early on and no one had a look at us," said Coleman.

"I was waiting for Seven Schillings to come around and take the front off us but she never got there. My horse is a long-striding 2-year-old so things worked out well for us and once we got balanced coming around the turn we kicked on the field.

"He got a bit tired over the last 50m but he was entitled to do so as he had to burn a bit to get over to the rail and I knew Leith [Innes on St Fevre] had the drop on us as he followed us all race."

Cambridge trainers Murray and Bjorn Baker have done an exceptional job with the gelded son of Lucky Owners who created a huge impression with a debut victory at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

The Heckler was an effortless winner of the $1 million 2-year-old race again at Ellerslie on January 25 when handled by visiting Australian jockey Michael Rodd. Coleman opted to ride Katie Lee in that feature event - the only occasion - he has not ridden the Baker-trained star.

BOOM APPRENTICE jockey James McDonald added another feature race to his impressive tally this season when combining with Izonit to win the Group Three $100,000 The Oaks Stud Manawatu Classic.

McDonald rode a well-judged patient race aboard the colt son of Volksraad sitting in third behind the aggressive Quartz Reef and pulled his charge out three wide to challenge on the home turn.

Izonit came with a sustained sprint to reel in Quartz Reef and win by three-quarters of a length with a further short head to Prix Du Sang (third).

The hot favourite Daffodil was gallant in defeat, racing three wide throughout and fighting on in determined style to finish fourth, only a long neck behind Prix Du Sang.

Izonit struck wet tracks in his last two starts during the Auckland Cup meeting at Ellerslie and was unplaced behind Coniston Bluebird in the $1 million New Zealand Derby.

This victory must have left Matamata-based trainers Vanessa and Wayne Hillis wondering what the colt could have done on a firm track on Derby Day at Ellerslie.

Judging by yesterday's powerful home stretch sprint off a hot pace, Izonit has the ability to race handy and sprint quickly, ideal racing manners for a track like Ellerslie.

FRONT-RUNNING warriors Sir Slick and MacO'Reilly slugged out another brutal battle over the closing 800m of the Group Two $100,000 Awapuni Gold Cup.

Sir Slick was attempting a hat-trick of victories in the weight-for-age feature and was eye-balled from the 800m by MacO'Reilly.

Midway down the home stretch it appeared Sir Slick had the measure of MacO'Reilly but the well-built son of O'Reilly refused to bow down, closing relentlessly and grabbing the victory by a long neck. A further long head away third was Spectacular Icon.

MacO'Reilly carried an imposing formline into this race scoring back-to-back Group One weight-for-age victories and it took every ounce of his long-barrelled physique to reel in a gallant Sir Slick.

The 5-year-old has been the most improved weight-for-age horse racing in New Zealand this year and it will be interesting to watch him compete next season against New Zealand's best racehorses in the spring feature events at Hastings.