Riccarton Turf Review
La Fille En Jeu claims another feature
- Wanganui mare, LA FILLE EN JEU, made it a brace of Riccarton Park feature wins with a daring front running ride from Lisa Allpress in the listed Christchurch Casino Easter Cup. Trainer and part owner Nigel Auret, his wife Adaire being the other owner, had left the mare in the care of Riccarton Park trainer Richard Didham after winning on the first day of the Autumn Racing Season. Topweight TOMMY TUCKER was valiant in trying to win the race for the third time in succession with KING PIN running third.
- The days other feature the NZB Insurance Stakes produced as close a finish as can be hoped for in a horse race with noses separating the first four fillies. Hall of Fame trainer Jim Gibbs has retained his passion of racing long after retiring as a conditioner of horses as an owner in both thoroughbred and harness racing. He and wife Ann race RESPIN from the Riccarton Park stable of Terri Rae and the three-year-old prevailed form the fast finishing BENEFICIAL with COURTE ZARINDI and GREENPARK GEM next home. The favourite and previously unbeaten THE PRECIOOS ONE was unplaced. RESPIN is the only horse to carry the Gibbs colours of ‘turquoise, red spots and cap’ since Jim’s last day as a trainer.
- Riccarton Park trainer Brian Court produced the promising UPPERHAND for the first time since failing in the Al Basti Equiworld NZ 2000 Guineas in November. The gelding demonstrated the faith that saw him start in the Group 1 Classic running out a strong winner of the NZB South Island Sale Rating 65 1200 metre event.
- The PGG Wrightson Seeds Open Sprint was won by MORSE CODE in its first start for the Pitman partnership after previously been trained in the Central Districts by owner Tom Perry.
- Ashburton trainer Bevan Wilson and wife Robyn were again in the Riccarton Park winners weigh-in stall this time with FLAG THE GROOM in the Hornby Working Men’s Club Founders Cup. And! yet again in the very next race with ZAWHIP.
