There were a couple of spectacular look-ahead runs at Tauranga on Saturday.
One of them was Run Like Al, whose fresh-up sprint victory provided probably the best example yet of how much he is under-rated.
He'd never previously won over 1200m, but he made it look easy in running a
fast time to win the Morton Estate open sprint.
The first run since Wall Street's Thorndon Mile was meant to be just a lead-up affair to the $200,000 Land Pride Easter at Ellerslie on April 17, but trainer Jakki Good wasn't complaining.
"I'd have been happy with running a hole [2nd or 3rd] today, but we're not turning down a win in a $25,000 race," she said on Saturday.
Run Like Al carried 58kg to his comfortable win on Saturday and the interesting issue will be what effect the win will have on his Easter Handicap weight.
Pacemaker Raid fought well for second and there were few noticeable excuses.
Obsession didn't win on Saturday, but her close third in the Hills Haden Valuers 3YO did nothing to lessen your enthusiasm for what chance you give her against the best in the $200,000 NZ Bloodstock Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha in two weeks.
She was tardy out of the gates, settled back off a fast early pace then had to be the widest runner on the home bend when improving from back in the field.
Obsession looked like winning at the 200m, but wilted the last 100m to be third in a three-way finish.
"She had a decent blow after that and will improve with the run," said trainer Frank Ritchie.
Rider Michael Coleman was happy.
"I went too soon, but she was travelling well at the time."
Fellow 3-year-old filly Aspinal could barely have been more impressive, finding the line strongly to win the $25,000 Rimpac Owens Plate.
Well ridden by Chad Ormsby, Aspinal charged at the leaders in the
final stages to score stylishly.
"We'll try and maximise her while the tracks are decent," said co-trainer Tony Pike.
"There's always the option of the Brisbane carnival, but it's difficult taking sprinting fillies to Australia - their sprinters are top class."
Fabulous ride by Lance Noble's apprentice Alvin Ng to win the Ultimate Motog Group Rating 90 on stable runner Headsup at Tauranga.
Not only did Ng give Headsup the perfect trail, when it was time to press the button at the 375m he shouldered eventual second-placegetters Wida's Dream out of the way to get a clear run to the winning post.
Not many do that to Mark Du Plessis.
Ride of the day and Michael Coleman's effort on stayer Mr Tipsy to win the Team Wealleans BOP Open was a classic for initiative.
There were a couple of spectacular look-ahead runs at Tauranga on Saturday.
One of them was Run Like Al, whose fresh-up sprint victory provided probably the best example yet of how much he is under-rated.
He'd never previously won over 1200m, but he made it look easy in running a
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