He's Lucid won the War Decree Stakes
- The fourth day of the Spring Racing season was held in conditions far removed from spring. Rain fell from 6:30pm on Friday through the night and most of raceday. 52mm in total. Heavy10 conditions were the result. That did not stop some intriguing racing.
- Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers travelled his maiden three-year-old HE’S LUCID south for the Group 3 War Decree Stakes and at the finish of the 1600 metres feature the maiden tag no longer applied. The promising galloper cemented his place in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai NZ 2000 Guineas with a commanding performance under Lily Sutherland. RAZIAH a stakes winner at her previous two starts finished second with favourite KIWI SKYHAWK in third. The time was an exceptionally slow 01:49.27 in the conditions.
- Myers also produced ALJAY, who had won the Martin Collins New Zealand Cup in 2022, to win the Sothys Spring Classic under Jonathan Riddell. DAZZLING MISS and LOMBARDI filled the minor placings.
- For good measure he also added the NZB AIRFREIGHT ROAD TO JERICHO to his tally for the day with JUST CHARLIE. The five-year-old was having only his thirteenth start in the 3000 metres staying test. Tina Comignaghi who had won the 2022 NZ Cup aboard ALJAY for the stable was the winning rider.
- The Tea Akau Racing duo of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson also trained three winners on the programme with MALMAISON, PERFECT SCENARIO in the TAB Mile Trial, and CAN’T KACH ME. PERFECT SCENARIO was ridden by Amber Riddell the daughter of Jonathan, whilst the other two were ridden by Wiremu Pinn.
- Despite those quality performances the best result of the day, in many people’s eyes, was the win of SCHEDAR in the Canterbury Landscapes Maiden. The reason, popular local trainer Mike McCann legged up friend and former stable apprentice Rohan Mudhoo to record his first win at his third raceday back after recovering from treatment for cancer. Emotions ran high as Rohan and SCHEDAR were led back to scale by his wife Payal who was understandably excused her duties as a Club employee of the Riccarton Park Function Centre for the occasion.