Racing: Gagarin's stellar hurdles win

Myers stable representative Ken Harrison was pleased with the win after the horse had been unlucky at his most recent jumping start. Photo / Thinkstock

The powerful Kevin Myers and Matthew Gillies combination added another feature jumping success to their ledger when Gagarin proved too strong for his rivals in the $50,000 Te Whangai Romneys Hawke's Bay Hurdle (3100m) yesterday.

A patient ride by Gillies was a key to the victory as he bided his time towards the rear of the field on the six-year-old son of Pentire as two well fancied candidates in Thenamesbond and Venerate shared the pacemaking role at various stages throughout a solidly run contest.

Gillies asked his mount to improve with around 1000 metres to run as several of the early contenders began to drop away including race favourite Kings Deep who mixed his jumping in the middle stages. Gagarin loomed into the contest on the corner and took over comfortably before extending over the last two fences for a convincing four length victory.

Lucky Tonight made good ground late to snatch second off a brave Venerate with Thenamesbond close up in fourth.

Myers stable representative Ken Harrison was pleased with the win after the horse had been unlucky at his most recent jumping start.

"He was unlucky at Timaru two weeks ago but was impressive today and it was a good ride by Matt," he noted.

Gillies also had plenty of praise for the performance of his mount.

"It's not very often you don't have to pull the stick in a hurdle race as he just did it easy," he said.

Gillies had ridden Gagarin in his maiden hurdle victory at Riccarton back in August last year and was reuniting with the gelding for the first time since that win.

"I rode him to win a maiden hurdle at Riccarton but haven't been able to get back on since then," he said.

The victory was the fifth of a 27 start career for Gagarin who was also runner-up in the 2014 Great Northern Hurdles at Ellerslie.

- NZ Racing Desk