Racing: Williams bid farewell in style with 1000 Guineas win

Hayden Tinsley gets Planet Rock home in front of Abeautifulred in the NZ 1000 Guineas. Photo / Getty Images

Peter and Dawn Williams signed off their tenure at Riccarton the perfect way with a narrow win with Planet Rock in the New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas yesterday.

The couple, two of the South Island's most accomplished trainers head north this month to Byerley Park near Karaka from their long time Riccarton premises after winning the last Group 1 of Cup week.

Favourite Artistic was the first out, but she was not happy to lead and 40/1 longshot Abeautifulred took over the running after about 300m, with Artistic and Holy Moly dropping in the trail.

That was the way they stayed as the field spread out around the home stretch, searching for the best footing on the heavy track.

Pacesetter Abeautifulred given an easy lead, stayed on, and Planet Rock took up the challenge down the outside rail.

With her right foreleg bandage coming loose and flapping, Hayden Tinsley managed to squeeze that little extra out of Fastneck Rock filly Planet Rock and she got home by half a head from the game Abeautifulred.

Capital Diamond battled on for third two lengths away.

Planet Rock became the first Riccarton-trained winner of the NZ 1000 Guineas since the aptly named Canterbury Belle in 1984.

And now the Williams head north to the Karaka complex, close to Ellerslie where they have had their biggest successes with a 1988 Auckland Cup with Sea Swift and the 1996 Railway Handicap with Loader.

The race was robbed of some of its interest when Don Sellwood's widely fancied Anabandana was scratched because of the heavy going.

Favourite Blood Brotha outstayed another wet tracker Jungle Boy to win the Group 3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup in the other feature race at Riccarton yesterday.

James McDonald had Ray Connors' Wanganui-trained 6YO gelding settling midfield for most of the journey among a group of favoured runners, including fellow northern raiders Showcause, Fast Love and Titch.

Southerner Hand of Fate tookover from early leader Seaflyte with a 1000m to go and as the field spread out around the bend he was joined by Jungle Boy, Blood Brotha and Yours, who sorted themselves down the straight.

In the end Blood Brotha justified his favouritism, by outlasting Jungle Boy and a game Hand of Fate.