Racing: Tullaroan grinds to Cup win

Darryl Bradley and Tullaroan lead home Lisa Allpress and Cassini in the Manawatu Cup. Photo /NZPA

Foxton trainers David Haworth and Matt Dixon savoured the success of a well-planned campaign when Tullaroan won the $70,000 (Group Three) Manawatu Cup at Awapuni.

Tullaroan got into the feature staying event with only 53kg and responded to a confident ride from Darryl Bradley yesterday, grinding to a determined victory over Cassini and the fast closing So Pristine (third).

After an eye-catching third in the Manawatu Cup Prelude last week, Tullaroan trained on well during the week and had no difficulty powering through the heavy track conditions to score a popular victory.

"We were very happy with him leading into this race as he had wet track form and no weight on his back," said senior co-trainer David Haworth.

"He ran a great race in the Cup Prelude and we knew he was ready for a big effort in this race. We'll see how he pulls up after the race but it looks like we'll be heading to the Wellington Cup meeting with him."

While all honours were with the winner perhaps the eye-catching run of the race was recorded by the third place getter So Pristine.

The daughter of Zabeel sat in last place throughout the running of the race and made up a stack of ground wide out in the home stretch clinching some black type for her future breeding career.

However on yesterday's performance she is a staying mare worth following over summer.

DAVID WALSH is an accomplished front-running jockey and took advantage of the early speed of Starguru to post a gutsy victory in the $20,000 Rich Hill Stud 3YO Premier.

Walsh had the filly straight over from a wide draw into the pace making role and set a solid clip throughout running to the middle of the track on the home turn in search of better footing.

Starguru scored by 1 lengths over Jetset Lad with a further half-neck back to Nippin (third).

Hastings-based trainer Patrick Campbell has done a great job with Starguru who has three wins from four starts.

"She's definitely a soft tracker who does like the sting out of the ground but running her in this Heavy 10 may be at the extreme end of her ability," said Campbell.

"The one start she missed on we tried to race her in behind and she copped a decent check so the plan today was to go forward from the wide draw.

"She has been up a while now so we'll review things and see how she's pulled but it might be time for a break and bring her back for autumn racing."

JONATHAN RIDDELL was extremely confident in the sprinting ability of class athlete Justanexcuse - despite the favourite suffering a slight home straight check - as this combination powered through testing track conditions to score a narrow victory.

The 4-year-old suffered minor interference in the home stretch when Riddell went looking for galloping room between runners but was quickly balanced up and found clear air.

Justanexcuse sprinted powerfully over the closing 100m to grab a narrow victory over Tai Chi Queen and Reuben Thorn (third).

Awapuni has been a happy hunting ground for the Lisa Latta-trained star - two wins and two minor placings - from four starts.

Justanexcuse was heavily supported on the New Zealand TAB due to a proven racing record on heavy track conditions and a clear class factor over the opposition.

In his last start, Justanexcuse ran sixth behind speed machine Coup Align in the Stewards Handicap at Riccarton. This was a massive drop back in class.