Racing: Include returns after 'good run'

Brian Anderton
Brian Anderton
After losing no admirers from her Te Aroha win, the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained Include is heading back to the mainland.

The 4yr-old produced a meritorious run to finish sixth in the group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes at Te Aroha on Saturday, an effort that pleased Brian Anderton.

''It was a good run,'' he said.

''She got a wee bit lost going right-handed, but they went a phenomenal time, and from where she came from, she ran a good race.''

The daughter of Gallant Guru is on her way back to the South Island, with her next target to be the $100,000 Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton on April 18.

The 2000m group 3 feature will be her first look at a distance of further than a mile since her third in the Warstep Stakes last April and is likely to be her last run in a season that has yielded five wins from six starts.

Courtney Barnes
Courtney Barnes
''That'll probably do her for the season then - she could have stayed and raced at Te Rapa for the same amount of money in a group 2 [the Travis Stakes on April 25], but we thought we would bring her home.''

Include's northern sojourn is over but her rider, Courtney Barnes, is back for more at Te Awamutu today on apprentices' day.

From a handy barrier, the lightly tried Dinah Lee looks a strong chance for her in the 1150m maiden for 3yr-olds.

The filly was third in her only juvenile appearance behind the talented Azkadellia and has weighed in from two subsequent starts this season behind the progressive pair of Snowdrop and Perfect Fit.

What's Up Alf is Barnes' ride in the 3yr-old 1400m maiden and the gelding is another consistent type, with five cheques banked from as many starts.

She is also booked to partner first starter Leica Dreim in the 1150m maiden and Ming's Girl in the 1580m maiden.

Include may have represented her White Robe Lodge sire, Gallant Guru, with pride on Saturday, but the stud had another reason to celebrate at the weekend when Unfurl won a 1600m maiden at Stawell in Victoria on Sunday.

The half-sister to Inferno is the first Australian winner for resident sire Raise The Flag.

''It was quite a good maiden and after the race they said it was quite an impressive win,'' Brian Anderton said.

''It's been placed twice in two starts before that just running on.''

- Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk

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