Autumn Racing Season - 3rd day review

Group 1 winner SAINT EMILION added the time honoured Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup to his list of 14 wins with the narrowest on victories over WHO DARES WINS and BOOTS’N’ALL. Comeback queen Lisa Allpress has made Riccarton Park her own since returning from injury and rode the six-year-old gelding for Cambridge trainers, and premiership leaders, Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.
Sally McKay prepared SHOWEMUP to win last years NZ Bloodstock South Island Filly of the Year and repeated the achievement this year with COURTE ZARINDI. COURT ZARINDI won the New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stake to go with her win in the NZB Airfreight Stakes at Wingatui and third place in the NZB Insurance Stakes at her previous Riccarton Park appearance. Tina Comignaghi rode the filly and connections had to survive a protest from runner-up ZA ZA GABOR. WEE GILLY finished third from PINUP COUP.
Twelve two-year-old lined un in the second race on the card over the 1000 metres. Locally trained KHIMAR WAR improved from his first start third placing a month earlier to beat HAPI ELLA and MISS CURIOUS.
Ascot Park trainer Jo-Ann Gordon has her team in excellent form and that continued when SHAARA, at long odds, upset a very strong field in the Christchurch Casino Open Sprint. The very good DON CARLO ran second from ZAWHIP and Group 1 performer SON OF MAHER.