A JOURNEY from Isla Bank in Southland was worth it for trainer Kerry Taplin when Joe Bonanno held off a late bid from Dalwhinnie in the open 1000m at the Wingatui jumpouts yesterday.
Taplin had planned to start the No Excuse Needed 6yr-old at Gore last week, but nominations for the rating 75 1200m were insufficient for a race to be run.
She is instead targeting a rating 75 1400m at Winton on October 11.
Joe Bonanno had his first start for Taplin and co-trainer Ian Taplin at Gore in February last year. He won the 1335m maiden that day and has since won twice at Riverton - in May last year and April this year.
Dalwhinnie's trainer, Terry Kennedy, was equally pleased with his mare's effort over a distance well short of her best, and also derived some pleasure from Go Solo's win in the 800m maiden.
Go Solo, a 4yr-old Gallant Guru mare, had three starts between May and June this year and handled the heavy inner grass at Wingatui with ease, beating Raissir by 1 lengths.
Kennedy also prepared Countess Ruby, ridden by Chris Johnson, to win a maiden 1000m heat by of a length over Master Dennis. There was another eight lengths back to Young Issy, who needs more ground to show her best, Kennedy said.
Countess Ruby could be a starter at Wingatui on September 26.
''Chris said she went really nice but she's still a little green. Unfortunately there were only three in it so she didn't learn a great deal but she'll take a lot of improvement out of that.''
Wild Bill was not too far out of touch with the winner in the open 1000m, finishing fourth. His trainer, Joanne Hillis, said the South Otago Cup over 1600m at Wingatui on September 26 was the first step. She felt Wild Bill would need to win between then and New Zealand Cup week to ensure a start in the group 2 3200m on November 14. A start in the listed Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton on October 24 was a possibility for Wild Bill, she said.
Them Or Us and Princess Brook went to the line in the open 800m and were separated by only a nose to the favour of Them Or Us.
Results. -
Weather, fine; track (inner grass), heavy.
800m maiden: Go Solo C Johnson 1; Raissir (3g Raise The Flag-Rakahuri) 2; Tapalize 3. Four started. Time, 50.71. 1L, L. Trainer, T Kennedy.800m open: Them Or Us C Barnes 1; Princess Brook 2; Cleo Layne 3. Three started. Time, 49.29. Ns, 2L. Trainer, S Prince.1000m maiden: Countess Ruby C Johnson 1; Master Dennis 2; Young Izzy 3. Three started. Time, 1.03.37. L, 8L. Trainer, T Kennedy.1000m open: Joe Bonanno S Muniandy 1; Dalwhinnie 2; The Lion Queen 3. Four started. Time, 1.01.43. L, 4L. Trainer, K Taplin.
