Racing: Herman mows down rivals

Jockey Samantha Collett brings home Herman Munster in the Taumarunui Gold Cup at Te Rapa. Photo / NZPA

Waverley trainer Sam Lennox enjoyed a successful hit and run raid on the Waikato district yesterday producing Herman Munster to register a determined victory in the $80,000 Taumarunui Cup.

The 5-year-old clearly lacked the experience of many of his rivals in the 2100m listed event but left no excuses for the opposition when striding clear in the home stretch to score by 1 lengths over Dubhdara. A further long head away in third position was Amirar.

Herman Munster underlined his maturing as a winter galloping star with an impressive last-start second placing behind Strapped For Cash at Trentham.

Yesterday the son of Traditionally found the 52.5kg an easy assignment and won with plenty in hand. Lennox has been rewarded with his patience handling the 5-year-old who has four wins and seven minor placings from 15 starts.

* Consistency was rewarded when Salvatore over powered a smart field of sprinters to win the $35,000 Open 1400m.

Cambridge trainer Anne Herbert has most probably never handled a more genuine performer. The 5-year-old has scored six wins and eight minor placings from 19 starts.

Salvatore scored by 1 lengths over Just A Whisper with a further long neck back to Appleton's Lass (third).

Te Rapa has been a happy hunting ground for Salvatore - two wins and three minor placings from as many starts.

* Queen Sabeel made it back-to-back wins for Hamilton-based trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson easily taking out the opening event.

The 3-year-old daughter of Savabeel won her last-start at Ruakaka and handled the testing ground at Te Rapa with ease maintaining an unbeaten record on New Zealand's premier winter racing surface.

* The Rogerson stable had to survive a protest to win the $45,000 Ryder Stakes at Levin with Dating.

The 2-year-old daughter of O'Reilly scored by a half-head over Zennista with a further two lengths back to Lol (third).

Dating has been a late season star scoring three wins and a fourth placing from four starts.

She was one of two winners for comeback kid James McDonald who travelled south to ride the filly as opposed to staying to ride at Te Rapa.