Champion rider Chris Johnson unleashed his renowned magic in the first race of the rescheduled meeting. He saved every bit of ground he could by hugging the rail on the home turn on the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Anzac Coup.
The horse looked to be struggling before then, but, like so many of Johnson’s rides, the filly lifted under his urgings to win. He was again at his brilliant best in winning the Clare Memorial Gold Cup on the Sally McKay-trained Indiana Pearl.
After getting back to last in a slowly run affair, Johnson worked the mare into the contest and then let her down.
"I was a bit concerned when there was no pace on but at the 600m we lucky they put a bit more speed into the race," he said.
"She got to them easy enough but she couldn’t run away from them. She was laying all over the place."
That kind of behaviour was typical of Indiana Pearl, McKay said.
"She is a cool horse. She has got issues but that is just her — she is interesting."
Indiana Pearl could not reproduce her best in two starts following a big win at the New Zealand Cup carnival in November. However, that was not entirely her own fault after she was starved for racing room in her previous start behind Patrick Erin at Wingatui.
Indiana Pearl’s victory gave McKay a training double as Miss Tuscan triumphed in race 5. The consistent mare was ridden to win by apprentice Sutvhire Toolooa, who claims 4kg.
The safe completion of the Omakau meeting was a relief, but the New Zealand thoroughbred industry’s horror start to 2018 continued when the Otaki races were called off yesterday. With 13mm of rain falling in the morning and bad weather forecast, stipendiary stewards made the decision to abandon the meeting,
NZTR said in a statement.
