Matscot returns to scale after the TAB Southern Alps Challenge
- The inaugural TAB Southern Alps Challenge lived up to its purpose in every way. It attracted 2 horses from North Canterbury, 6 from Christchurch, 1 from each of Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury, and Otago and 3 from Southland. It was won by MATSCOT trained by Sharon Robertson, one of the smaller stables in the south and recorded significant wagering as the backbone of a raceday that saw total wagering leap from $1.6 million in 2023 to $2.4million this year. Irishman Joe Doyle was the successful rider and gave a most eloquent post-race speech to match his gun ride on the winner.
- Michael Pitman, who trains in partnership with son Matthew, reached a massive career milestone of 2000 wins when EPEE BEEL won the NZB Insurance Stakes beating NEPHETI and QUINTABELLE. Tina Comignaghi was the rider.
- The feature two-year-old race was the Riccarton Park Function Centre Welcome Stakes. The race was held for the first time in the autumn having been shifted from the NZ Cup Meeting at the request of the NZ Pattern Committee. It went as punters expected with $1.10 favourite NUCLEOZOR comfortably beating stablemate DISCRETION RULES.
- Seventy-eight teams, the most ever, took part in the TAB Southern Punters Challenge with Robin Wales running out the winner.
- Close to $11,000 was raised for the Rohan Mudhoo Trust.
- Two heats of the NZTR Pony Scurry series were run and won with a large crowd of supported cheering on the 18 competitors.
- Tina Comignaghi rode three winners to be leading rider whilst Brian and Shane Anderton joined the Pitman’s winning two races on the programme.