As they say, one door closes and another one opens.
Such is the luck of Cambridge trainer Paul Duncan, who, with a heavy heart, had to retire his trusty open sprinter Pinsoir recently.
"He was a good horse who never had a lot of luck. He probably should have won a couple
of Railways," said Duncan.
But in racing, like everything else, time doesn't stand still, and at Hastings on Saturday he struck gold with two winners, Keeper filly Midnight Oil in the $70,000 Lowland Stakes and Say No More in the Rating 70.
Both were ridden by Rosie Myers, who has now ridden three times for Duncan for three wins.
Midnight Oil didn't mind the loose footing, and had the race in control over the final 200m.
She comfortably mastered Kiwi Lady and I Gotta Feeling with hotpot King's Rose flashing home from well back for fourth. It was ride by Chris Johnson that would have left many punters scratching their heads.
Midnight Oil will now start in the NZ Oaks at Trentham on March 19, while Say No More - a very promising filly, says Duncan - may now go out for a spell and return for the spring.
Klose scores
Trainer Mike Breslin was rightfully chuffed with Klose's huge win in the Rating 80 at Hastings.
Again with Myers up, he flew down the middle of the track from well back to nudge out Tristan's Choice.
"He wasn't really handling the going that well, but once he got to the centre of the track he really picked up," said Breslin.
Klose, named after a German World Cup star - Breslin likes his football and has All Whites coach Ricki Herbert as a client - now has three wins from five starts. It's possible he could join stablemate, open class sprinter Tip The Wink, in Australia this winter.
Tip The Wink may chase some black type in Melbourne before being mated with High Chaparral.
Once she's foaled, Breslin hopes to have her ready for a shot at the Railway at Ellerslie.
Bonus shocker
Star Kiwi filly We Can Say It Now ran a shocker and only beat two home in Saturday's Australian Guineas at Flemington.
The group one was won by Danny O'Brien's Shamrocker.
"This was a real bonus. We think this year she might even be in the Melbourne Cup.
"Her run (second) in the (VRC) Oaks was outstanding. She ran into Brazilian Pulse who was absolutely flying and is an outstanding filly too," said O'Brien.
Meanwhile, trainer Chris Waller celebrated his 37th birthday by picking up two feature wins at Warwick Farm on Saturday, including the group one Chipping Norton Stakes with Danleigh.
Just 40 minutes later Triple Elegance put the icing on Waller's birthday cake when he took out the group three Liverpool City Cup (1300m) to earn a start alongside his stablemate in next month's $2 million Doncaster Mile.
With the pace on up front, Hugh Bowman bided his time on Danleigh until he balanced him in the straight to make his run.
Danleigh responded and overhauled Centennial Park to win by a neck with Sacred Choice steaming home for third another three-quarters of a length away.
Danleigh will now meet Keep The Peace in the Ranvet at Rosehill on March 19.
Retirement looms
Wanganui 10-year-old Bulginbaah had conditions to suit but could only managed fourth behind Amaryllis in Saturday's Darley Plate at Ellerslie. Retirement is growing close for the grand galloper.
As they say, one door closes and another one opens.
Such is the luck of Cambridge trainer Paul Duncan, who, with a heavy heart, had to retire his trusty open sprinter Pinsoir recently.
"He was a good horse who never had a lot of luck. He probably should have won a couple
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.