Racing: Jockey takes no chances on Wall Street

Michael Coleman on Wall Street acknowledges the crowd at Hastings. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Leading jockey Michael Coleman was taking no risks with Wall Street, putting the hot favourite into a dominant position to win the $200,000 (Group One) Windsor Park Plate at Hastings.

Coleman had Wall Street nicely positioned outside the pace-making Time Keeper throughout the running of the weight-for-age 1600m feature lengthening stride quickly with 200m remaining.

Wall Street was not going to be denied a well-deserved victory, scoring by three-quarters of a length over Fritzy Boy with a further long neck back to Keep The Peace (third).

The first three place-getters were handy to the pace throughout with only Veloce Bella making ground impressively from the rear of the field to finish sixth, just over four lengths, from the winner.

Wall Street was narrowly beaten in the opening leg of the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown Series by Keep The Peace.

However Coleman knew the importance of taking an on-the-pace sit with Wall Street who relaxed beautifully outside the leader and showed a sharp turn of foot when asked to sprint in the home stretch.

Trainer Jeff Lynds said he and the owners now had to decide whether to aim Wall Street at the third leg of the Hawke's Bay triple crown, the $250,000 Ormond Memorial Spring Classic (2040m) on October 2, or go to Australia for big mile races - with the Toorak in Melbourne a likely possibility.

"We will take three or four days, I have some research to do," Lynds said on Trackside.

Keep The Peace will bypass the Spring Classic and head to Melbourne for the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 2.

WALK AWAY kicked off his 4-year-old season in winning style posting a gallant fresh-up performance to take out the opening event.

The son of Van Nistelrooy enjoyed an economical sit behind the leaders pushing off the rail before the home turn and pouncing quickly.

Walk Away knuckled down to a decent stride-for-stride battle with the opposition, scoring by a nose over the fast-closing Red Mafia with a further half-head back to Platinum Princess (third).

Jockey Chad Ormsby was full of praise for Walk Away.

"He loves a decent fight and when those other horses got up to him I knew he would prove really tough to run past," said Ormsby.

Walk Away looking an exciting stayer last season shaping up as a possible contender for the New Zealand Derby.

However patience has been rewarded as he certainly appears a much more mature athlete this season who should excel when stepped up to a distance beyond 1600m.

REMEMBER HOWE took full advantage of a handy barrier draw to post an upset victory in the (Group Three) $70,000 Hawke's Bay Gold Trail Stakes.

The daughter of Handsome Ransom scored by a long neck over Zennista with a further three-quarters of a length back to Dating (third).

This victory followed a narrow but determined victory in a listed stakes event at Wanganui.

While it is too early to be reading a lot into these fillies races, nothing can be taken away from Remember Howe who has two wins and four minor placings from six starts.