Awapuni racecourse’s renovated grass track was given its first test on Monday with four sets of jumpouts, and it was given the tick of approval by participants.
Unheralded four-year-old Doctor Askar (Derryn) has proved himself one of the finds of the summer as he completed his fifth win from just six starts since breaking maidens in December when taking out the Listed Flying Handicap at Trentham on Saturday.
After a series of highly creditable performances against some of the best of his age group, Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) (Contributer)broke through for his first feature-race success in Saturday’s Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2100m) at Trentham.
A sparkling performance by La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) in Saturday’s Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) completed another Te Akau clean sweep of New Zealand’s biggest two-year-old prizes.
Last year’s Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) winner Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) has showcased his versatility and class this autumn with a dominant double over 1600m and 2100m.
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will present nearly a third of the field in Saturday’s Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), vying for a seventh title in the last eight years with their all-conquering juveniles
Peter Didham and his owners can take a good deal of satisfaction from their dual representation in Saturday’s feature event at Trentham, regardless of the outcome.
Our Echo has a well-documented love affair with the champagne turf and the Balcairn galloper will cross the Cook Strait again this week in pursuit of Saturday’s Listed Bramco and Granite Flying Handicap (1400m).
