Cup win shows Wynne back to best

Samantha Wynne knows she and Who Dares Wins have the Easter Cup in the bag at Riccarton Park on...
Samantha Wynne knows she and Who Dares Wins have the Easter Cup in the bag at Riccarton Park on Saturday.PHOTO: RACE IMAGES SOUTH
Canterbury jockey Samantha Wynne completed her brilliant return to race riding with success aboard Who Dares Wins in the 1600m Easter Cup at Riccarton Park on Saturday.

Wynne returned to the saddle from a 10-month injury-enforced layoff less than a month ago.

She was quick to deflect praise on to West Melton trainers Tony and Lynn Prendergast after sealing the win that marked her return to the top of the South Island jockey ranks.

"Credit goes to Tony and Lyn and the team at home," she said.

"I think this horse can go on to bigger and better things."

The Prendergasts pulled off a brilliant training performance to have Who Dares Wins ready to win at listed level on a testing Riccarton track in his first start since December.

Wynne said the 6yr-old felt like he was travelling like a winner a long way from home.

"When you're pulling off heels at the 700m at Riccarton you know you are travelling not too bad.

"I thought I might have been unlucky at that point, but it probably did me a favour.

Who Dares wins was the only fresh runner racing seasoned opponents.

Tony Prendergast said

he was not "overly" confident before the race but knew the gelding was well.

"We were just worried about not being quite as seasoned as the others with the wet track."

Residential, who finished second, hit the front early in the run home, but was soon swooped upon by Who Dares Wins.

The favourite, Contessa Vanessa, rallied for third.

Rider Jacob Lowry's front-running tactics on Riccarton filly Emily Margaret set up a thrilling finish to the listed 3yr-old fillies' race (1600m).

Emily Margaret got away to a big lead before the home turn and had many of her rivals struggling in the straight.

Awapuni raider Secret Allure was the only one to make any impression on her rival's lead. The Zacinto filly collared Emily Margaret halfway down the straight to score her third black-type victory and take her stakes earnings to beyond $167,000.

There was another two-horse battle in closing stages of the open handicap sprint (1000m). Signify, the 2017 Telegraph winner, nosed out Gift Of Power to score his 11th win at his 50th start for Ashburton trainer Alex Cowan.

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