• The fourth day of the Riccarton Park autumn racing season was held in very pleasant overhead conditions on a soft5 track upgraded to Good4 after race 2.

• Fortuna Syndications sent their Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson trained colt ZAFAR south for the days feature the Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes. The $165,000 yearling purchase by top sire SNITZEL justified his short price winning by a length from the fast-finishing COOL AS BLING and FINAL TOUCH. He was one of three winners for Te Akau Racing training partnership and their stable rider Opie Bosson.

• STONYBRECK carried the tangerine and blue to win the $80,000 heritage race the Avon City Ford Easter Cup with a fast finish from SIR ALBERT and TU MUCH both also fast finishers.

• Their other winner was INSATIABLE in the days open sprint sponsored by the Bush Inn. The Pitman trained pair THIRD DECREE and EXPRESS COUP filled the minor placings in that race.

• Matthew and Michael Pitman did train two winners on the programme both ridden by northern based Australian jockey Matt Cartwright. GREAT ADVENTURE won the PGG Wrightson Seeds Rating 65 mile and MOON GODDESS the Marshall Batteries Rating 65 sprint.

• Ewan Fraser rode THE HOB to win the Great Autumn Handicap in 1952 and was guest of the club to present the Founders Cup to the winner of the comparable race this year.  That was CAPO DELL IMPERO who carried 60kg topweight, albeit reduced by the 3kg claim of Jack Taplin, to a deserved win for trainers Brian and Shane Anderton.

Another returnee to Riccarton Park but not after the same length of time was trainer Stephen Gray. After decades in Singapore Stephen is back at Awapuni training with his father Kevin and brought two horses south winning the last race, the Carpetdealz NZ Rating 75, with TORONTO