Southern duo seek black-type success

Sally Mckay
Sally Mckay
Though they may sit at opposite ends of the racing spectrum, two of this season's southern galloping stars face similar challenges at Riccarton today.

Both 8yr-old Otago favourite Tommy Tucker and promising Southland filly Showemup have the chance to sign off their good seasons with black-type (prestige) race wins.

But to do so, the pair must overcome the challenges of two classy North Island raiders.

Trainer Sally McKay's Showemup will need to hold out the Tony Pike-trained Grand Soleil in the Warstep Stakes.

Brian and Shane Anderton's Tommy Tucker has the Adrian and Harry Bull-trained Benzini heading his list of rivals in the weight-for-age Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m).

Showemup and Grand Soleil clashed two weeks ago, when the southerner held her out in listed company over 1600m.

The pair raced away from the rest of the field by six lengths and a repeat of that quinella looks likely today, but the question is which horse will be the stronger.

Grand Soleil charged at the line behind Showemup last time and has the better record of the pair over a staying trip, with a third over 2000m - today's race distance - in the group 3 Royal Stakes to her name.

McKay, who also lines up maidener Portumna Lass in the race, is confident Showemup can match her counterpart and successfully step up to 2000m.

``I'm happy with the horse - the horse is terrific.''

``I don't have a concern with her, really, getting the 2000m. She has got the right frame of mind.''

McKay qualified that opinion slightly: she hoped the fact Showemup missed work because of injury in February will not come back to haunt her today.

``It is just the time we missed earlier on at the end of February that is the concern, but she still raced nicely the other day.''

The result of the Warstep Stakes could decide the South Island Filly Of The Year series. Starvoia leads, but Showemup or northerner Grand Soleil could leapfrog her and fight out the series among themselves if they finish in the top three.

Later on the programme, Tommy Tucker will race past 1800m for only the second time. His only prior race over a middle distance was when he ran second at Cromwell in November, behind one of his race rivals today in Revelator.

Race favourite Benzini brings in many more 2000m credentials than that, having raced extensively in group and listed company over middle distances.

In the most recent of those runs the 7yr-old finished second - by only half a head - to Lizzie L'Amour in the weight-for-age group 1 Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie last month.

Earlier this week at Riccarton, $57,000 was raised at an evening to raise money for the Rebecca Black Trust.

Black, who had three children, died in a race fall at Gore in December.

The special guest was All Black coach Steve Hansen, who was interviewed by Canterbury race caller Mark McNamara while auctions ran throughout the night.

The most sought-after auction item was the right to name Brendon McCullum's next bat. The former New Zealand cricket captain names all his bats after racehorses and writes the name on its shoulder. After paying $12,000, Christchurch businessman Ray Coupland will get to name the next bat McCullum uses Coup Ray, after his retired 11-win sprinter.


 

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