Kid Columbus, trained at Omakau by Murray Hamilton, had his most recent win over hurdles at Riverton in April. He has won twice from eight starts in that role. He won a flat race over 3200m at Wingatui in November.
"He [Kid Columbus] is getting ready for the Grand National Hurdles next week," Hamilton said.
He races Kid Columbus with Russell Nieper, of Dunedin, Pat Baker and Ivan McNichol, both of Wellington. Nieper races Franco Emirate, the leading 4yr-old pacer of the past season.
Chong (22) has been apprenticed to Hamilton for two years. It was his third win in 57 rides.
• Don't Say Clang completed his preparation for the Winter Cup next Saturday with a sound win under 57kg in the open 1400m. Don't Say Clang, who looks particularly well, drops to 55kg in the Cup. Jillian Morris has retained the mount on the Terri Rae-trained 8yr-old.
Lisa Allpress has been engaged for stablemate, Ishiabeel, last-start winner of the Winter Cup Trial (1600m) at Washdyke with 57kg. Ishiabeel has 54kg in the Winter Cup (1600m), headed by Titch with 59kg.
Royal Flight finished third, three and a-half lengths from the winner after trailing the pacemaker.
"She has been behind the eight ball and the way the race was run with a sprint home did not suit her," Brian Anderton, her trainer, said.
Chris Johnson has been engaged to ride her in the Winter Cup.
• The owners of Queen Of The Castle, trainer Stephen Crutchley and Allan Simpson, both of Wanganui, were presented with a car valued at $39,000 after she finished second at Oamaru yesterday.
The Ford Focus was provided by Te Runga Stud, Papakura, as the prize for the most successful filly by the stud sire, Castledale, from his first crop.
The season concluded yesterday.
A condition of the series was that that the filly had to be sold through a sale conducted by New Zealand Bloodstock.
Wayne Larsen, the proprietor of Te Runga made the trip to Oamaru to present the car to Crutchley.
Queen Of The Castle, who has won five of her 16 starts, was a $6000 purchase at the festival yearling sale at Karaka.
"We bought her to target the car," Crutchley said.
"She has had a busy time so she will go for a spell now."
