Green Luck and connections post race
- The North Canterbury Committee hosted the third day of the Riccarton Park Spring Season on Saturday 28 September.
- Their signature race is the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup, and it was won by a notable galloper in GREEN LUCK. The veteran has been a winner in Australia, Hong Kong and, before Saturday, twice in New Zealand including the Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup. The souths top rider Tina Comignaghi combined with Phar Lap Raceway trainer Stephanie Faulkner to win the $50,000 event.
- At the other end of the age scale the programme included the South Island’s first two-year-old race of 2024/25. Kenny Rae travelled ELIZA JAMES from his Whangarei base, possibly a tip in itself, to win the 800 metres scurry from the John and Karen Parson’s trained QUISIERA.
- Three-year-olds always command much attention at this time of year as they head towards Guineas’ assignments at the NZ Cup Meeting. The Te Akau Racing trained AGE OF DISCOVERY had won a maiden at the previous meeting and delivered again in style over 1400 metres in the Rangiora New World Guineas Trial. The hot $1.40 favourite beat home CLOCHE and SIMSALA. CLOCHE trained by Brian and Shane Anderton. Mark Walker co-trained the colt and in doing so brought up his 2000th training success
- Two wonderful gallopers dominated the finish of the open sprint the Marshall Batteries Open over 1400 metres. TIMES TICKING now trained by Dean MacGregor, previously trained by Opaki by Deans father Alby, finished strongly down the middle of the track to defeat the unlucky PERFECT SCENARIO. Denby-Rose Tait rode the winner, her second of the day.
- Gordon Fulton, a past Chairman of the Canterbury Jockey Club and President of the North Canterbury Racing Club retires from the Board at the 2024 Annual General Meeting and the sixth race was named in his honour, the Thank You Gordon Fulton Rating 75