What a New Zealand Cup week it's been. The weather has [partly] played ball, the racing has been pretty much up to the mark, and the Canterbury public has responded.
I'll touch on the highlights of the week in a few days' time but one aspect of the racing on Wednesday, in particular, left me with a fair level of pride.
They couldn't quite pick up a win but the efforts of Natuzzi, The Solitaire and The Diamond One prove that our Wingatui horses are more than competitive at the elite level.
Natuzzi was so unlucky when you see the decent check he received in the home straight and evaluate his subsequent run for second, while The Diamond One was beaten after doing more work than any other horse in the race.
Paul Richards and Steven Anderton can look back on their day with plenty of satisfaction, even if a winner's cheque won't be in the mail.
. . . and more highs
As for the team involved with Hell Raiser, their sixth placing will be one that lives in their memories for a while, as they picked up the $40,000 Southern Bonus Race pool for finishing ahead of two other horses.
The keen readers of Racing Matters may recall I mentioned my good friend Nathan Campbell in my column in late January when he was about to get married.
He is also involved in the ownership of Hell Raiser, despite knowing which end of a horse is which and not much more.
Considering I told him to take up an offer to get involved a year ago, I'm looking forward to the complementary beverages he is arranging for me. Now it's in print, Nathan, you are duty-bound . . .
Mangled memory
One of my three loyal readers in Southland is a good mate who is to blame for getting me involved in racing.
He delights in pointing out my failings, but, to be fair, he was dead right when he texted me the other day to correct me about my New Zealand Trotting Cup day attendances.
I actually went to two New Zealand Trotting Cup days with him during the 2000s. For some reason, I completely forgot attending the 2006 New Zealand Cup, which was won by Flashing Red. I have a memory like a sieve sometimes.
Lazy Fiver
We were back to normal service on Sunday. Liam Sienna ran on late but only got to fourth at Wyndham. Let's see how Ormond Road goes in the New Zealand Cup (race 8) at Riccarton tomorrow.
