KEY POINTS:
Sam Spratt's decision to use the early gate speed of Gallions Reach proved the correct move when they scored a narrow victory in the $150,000 Counties Cup at Pukekohe Park yesterday.
Spratt punched the topweight for the Group Two feature straight across to the early lead in the
2100m event and then secured a dream sit behind the pace-setting favourite Gaze.
As the race developed into a blistering 600m sprint home those runners well off the pace had no chance.
Spratt sat patiently on Gallions Reach and pounced on a tiring Gaze with 200m remaining and had to be good to withstand a determined late challenge from Twinkling to win by a half-head. A further neck away in third position was the fast-closing Sircross.
One telling statistic was the fact the first 10 placegetters were less than two lengths from the winner. Video replays of the closing stages will prove valuable from a punting perspective in coming weeks with the upcoming Avondale and Waikato Cups.
Sircross, Ginga Dude and Six
O'Clock News made ground sharply from well back in the field over the closing stages.
Gallions Reach has been a solid performer for local trainer Richard Yuill, scoring eight wins and 12 minor placings from 39 starts.
The tough decision now facing Yuill is what to do with a nine-race winner who is already carrying hefty weights in handicap events in New Zealand.
JASON WADDELL was out in front and out of trouble throughout the running of the $120,000 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes when teaming with Ruud Van Slaats for a narrow victory.
Waddell rated the 4-year-old daughter of Van Nistelrooy to perfection, setting a solid speed and kicking clear of the opposition at the right time down the lengthy Pukekohe Park home stretch.
Ruud Van Slaats scored by a long neck over the fast closing Imananabaa with a further half length back to
Culminate (third).
Matamata-based trainer John Sargent had her in good order for the Group Two feature and the victory will strengthen her broodmare credentials.
Ruud Van Slaats has scored four wins and two minor placings from nine starts and will be easy to place in weight-for-age fillies and mares events throughout the summer carnival.
CONSISTENCY WAS rewarded when the well-bred, 2-year-old filly, The Lady, scored a determined victory in the $60,000 Murdoch Newell Stakes.
The daughter of Stravinsky was handy to the pace throughout the running and showed plenty of toughness when it mattered, shaking off a determined challenge from Rockadubai then a fast-closing Katie Lee to win by a half-length.
Katie Lee raced erratically midway down the home straight but once
jockey Michael Coleman balanced the filly she stormed home late and stuck her nose in front to grab second position from Rockadubai.
The Lady carried faultless form into the 1100m feature - three second placings from as many starts - and leading apprentice jockey James McDonald took full advantage of the barrier one draw to keep the filly close to the leaders throughout.