The Phillips family had to hold off their celebrations when Midnight Runner was forced to survive an inquiry to be confirmed the Tapanui Cup winner at Gore yesterday.
The 6yr-old led around the turn in the 1355m feature before rolling out in the straight when fighting an epic home straight duel with Gallant Boy.
Moments after enjoying a feature race win in just the horse’s second start since joining his stable, trainer John Phillips was headed to the inquiry room with rider Samantha Wynne.
The trainer admitted there were a few nervous moments before Midnight Runner was declared the Tapanui Cup winner.
“He was getting away from Gallant Boy in the end, but he did move out,” Phillips said.
Midnight Runner came to Phillips after his form in the North Island dropped off for trainers Peter and Dawn Williams.
The galloper ran third behind Flying Sardine and Gallant Boy in the Cromwell Cup in his first start in the South.
Midnight Runner took improvement from that outing and turned the tables on Gallant Boy in their exciting finish to yesterday’s feature.
“He has got good North Island form, he has won at Ellerslie, so he is no slug,” Phillips said.
“He has only had 29 starts, so he has a few more left in him yet with a bit of luck.”
Reverting from a dead4 surface at Cromwell to the dead6 rated Gore track was a factor in Midnight Runner’s victory yesterday.
The galloper relishes easing ground, evident in his three wins and five placings from just nine starts on heavy tracks.
“He is actually better on wet tracks,” Phillips said.
“He has better wet-track form than form on good tracks.”
“If it keeps raining we might head to Wingatui on Boxing Day, but if it stays reasonably good we will go down to Riverton on New Year’s Day.”
Midnight Runner is raced by John Phillips, his brother, Murray, and son Shane.
Gallant Boy was tenacious in defeat, going down by just a head .
The Brian and Shane Anderton trained galloper, who carried topweight of 59kg, should relish the chance to race under weight-for-age conditions in next week’s Timaru Cup.
The Anderton stable won race 5 on yesterday’s card when Phyllite scored a deserved maiden win over 1200m for rider Courtney Barnes.
Fellow White Robe Lodge rider Corey Campbell notched a double when winning race 8 aboard the Sally McKay-trained Trickle Treat.
Campbell had earlier ridden the Terry Kennedy-trained Ginny to a 1355m win in race 4.
