Racing: Tinseltown stars in course debut

Tinseltown. Photo / Greg Bowker

Tinseltown made short work of carrying the top weight of 57kg to post an impressive victory in the $100,000 (Group Two) Counties Cup at Pukekohe Park yesterday.

In his course debut, the 7-year-old Pentire-sired gelding lengthened stride impressively in the home stretch for rider Craig Grylls, clearing out to win by 1 lengths over Six O'Clock News with a further 1 lengths back to He's Heroic (third).

Tinseltown looked an outstanding prospect early in his career but has been a frustrating horse to follow on occasions.

However yesterday's Group Two victory was a pleasing result for Matamata-based trainers Mike Moroney and Andrew Clarken and their stable staff putting in hours of endless work getting the gelding back into winning form.

Obsession continued a magical run of form for Cambridge trainer Frank Ritchie, over- powering a quality field to win the $100,000 (Group Two) Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes.

Ritchie was the toast of Riccarton Park last Saturday when winning the New Zealand Cup in Christchurch.

At Pukekohe, Obsession managed to dodge horrific interference before the home turn to score a well-deserved Group Two victory.

Matt Cameron was having his first ride on the 4-year-old mare who had had little luck in three previous starts.

"She jumped with them but things got a little tight and we settled just back in the field. There was carnage in front of us before the home turn and we managed to dodge that and get onto the back of Katie Lee.

"I thought we were following the horse to beat and once I pulled her outside Katie Lee she really let down nicely."

Obsession has been a solid performer for Ritchie scoring four wins and three minor placings from 16 starts.

MISS UPSTART shocked punters - but not her trainer Graham Richardson - when powering to an impressive victory in the $45,000 (Listed) Murdoch Newell Stakes.

The 2-year-old daughter of Snippetson was lost for early speed in the 1100m event settling back in the field.

Winning jockey Michael Coleman elected to save ground at the top of the home stretch working through the field and unleash a blistering sprint along the inner over the closing 200m.

Miss Upstart scored by 1 lengths over Precise with a nose back to Brackenwood (third).

The winner scored at odds of 21-1 despite an impressive debut win on the course and then a useful seventh.

"Our early season goal with this filly was this race and we'll now ease up on her and set her for the Matamata Breeders Stakes in February," said Richardson after the race.

"We got a bit further back in the field than I initially wanted but there was that much early speed there was nothing we could do about it.

"She tries her heart out and I was pretty confident she would go a good race here today."

Coleman was full of praise.

"It was a good effort as we got back off the speed and then had to change direction at the top of the straight. She's a real little professional who had no problems taking gaps."