Banks Peninsula day on a heavy track.

• The annual Banks Peninsula Racing Club fixture was run at Riccarton Park under atrocious conditions for summer racing.  Significant rain in the lead up produced a Slow8 track that deteriorated to Heavy10 as rain continued throughout the day.
• Under the Covid-19 emergency regulations the racecourse operated with four areas limited to 100 people (The Suites, Phar Lap, Gloaming and Show Gate Reserved Carpark) within a compound distinctly separated for the licence holders and essential workers.
• The days feature the C S Stevens Memorial Banks Peninsula Cup went the way of ORIGINAL GANGSTER (image) who improved on his second in the Marlborough Cup two weeks earlier.  The seven-year-old scored his sixth win in the hands of Kylie Williams for West Melton trainer Lyn Prendergast. Lyn’s versatility with horses was evident the next day when she prepared SONIC REIGN to win at Addington Raceway.
• The days open sprint was reduced to a six-horse field after scratchings with the talented little mare CHOKITO taking her record to six wins from 12 starts and $140,000 in prizemoney.  Carrying topweight of 59kg, and the weight of public expectations, she proved too good for CAN’T SAY ENOUGH and VINO BELLE both carrying the minimum. Warwick Coles pride and joy was ably ridden by the souths leading rider Tina Comignaghi.
• Champion jockey Chris Johnson had reached 2500 winners at Ascot Park on the Thursday and continued on his merry way with win number 2501 aboard PHELAN THE POWER for another dual code trainer in Mark Jones.
• Incredibly on rain affected going favourites won 7 of the 10 races with Tina Comignaghi finished the day on 51 wins after rider three and fourth place on the national jockey premiership.