Racing: Star qualities shine through

Start Wondering, left, beats Packing Eagle in the BCD Group Sprint. Race Images

A wet Te Rapa had the connections of Start Wondering in a sombre pre-race mood, but New Zealand's reigning champion sprinter didn't let the rain dampen his parade.

The Wanganui seven-year-old overcame the Slow 9 going on yesterday to successfully defend his title in the group one BCD Group Sprint (1400m).

"Any Group One win is special, but we weren't expecting it today," said Evan Rayner, who trains the gelding with his daughter JJ at Wanganui.

"It rained all the way up here and he's struck some terrible tracks this time around, but he handled it better than I thought at Auckland so we decided to run."

Fourth in the group one Railway at Ellerslie when caught in the slowest part of the course, Start Wondering settled in behind the pace before striding to the front 200m from home for regular jockey Johnathan Parkes.

"It's amazing — when it rained we thought we didn't have a show," JJ Rayner said. "It was a great ride by Johnathan."

The gelding dug deep in the final stages to keep the challenge of Packing Eagle at bay with the longshot Brilliant Shine taking third money ahead of Ronchi.

The disappointment of yesterday's race was the warm favourite Kawi, who was gunning for the eighth group one victory of his career. The son of Savabeel missed the start and was never a threat in the run home and finished sixth.