Horseman Jim Curtin drove his fourth Reefton Cup win yesterday when Hokonui Ben prevailed on a heavy track.
Curtin is the trainer and driver of Hokonui Ben, owned by Russell Neiper, of Dunedin.
The same connections won the 2005 Reefton Cup with Highview Badlands. Curtin trained and drove Tar El to win in 1989 and he drove the 1997 winner, Dominion Rock.
Hokonui Ben ran the 3200m in 4.41.8, the slowest time for the race since 1991 when Clever Turk, trained and driven by Mark Nyhan, ran 5.02.1.
It was the fourth win for Hokonui Ben in 13 starts since he was bought by Neiper 13 months ago. The Washington VC-Jane Halsey gelding had won from five starts for Winton owner-trained Peter Drummond.
• KC Kamalight, a winner at Cobram (Victoria) on Wednesday, is the first foal of Kamwood Cully, the winner of the 2010 Sires' Stakes Final for 2yr-old fillies and the Yearling Sales Series Final. KC Kamalight was having his second start.
KC Kamalight, a 4yr-old entire by Bettor's Delight, was bought for $50,000 by trainer Barry Purdon at the 2009 premier yearling sale. KC Kamalight had been injured before the sale and Purdon exercised an option to void the sale.
KC Kamalight was then sold privately to Australia by owners Michelle House, Tony Love and Sheldon Murtha.
• A brilliant workout on Tuesday has reassured trainer Jamie Gameson that Here We Go Again is at her peak for the $170,000 Sires' Stakes Final at Alexandra Park today, The New Zealand Herald reports.
Here We Go Again, upset winner of the Ladyship Stakes on December 9, missed a heat of the Sires' Stakes nine days ago due to a stone bruise.
"Initially, I was worried but she only ended up missing two days' jogging," Gameson said.
"She has had plenty of work since and I was thrilled with how she worked on Tuesday."
The way Here We Go Again overcame a second-line draw in the Ladyship suggests she is good enough to triumph again.
