- Predicted rain never arrived on the second day of the Summer Racing Season with the meeting being held in warm muggy conditions.
- Champion rider and a Group 1 winning trainer David Walsh has recently returned to training based locally at Riccarton Park. The Karaka 2025 Two-year-old provided the opportunity for his first winner back and ZELIA duly obliged by out-finishing the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson trained BEST ROSE in the five-horse field.
- The going had been upgraded to Good4 for the running of the feature the Speight’s Timaru Stakes. John and Karen Parsons are rarely without a very good horse and they may have another with TUMUCH impressively winning the Listed 1200 metres sprint. Promising TEXAS DOLLY ran second with the ever-honest ADANNAYA also getting black type by running third. TUMUCH is race by John Parsons and Peter Lyon a great supporter of the stable over the years.
- The Woodbourne Tavern & Motels Bottle-O Renwick Marlborough Cup is held at Riccarton Park with the support of the Marlborough Racing Club. Grand Galloper TIMES TICKING returned from a northern campaign to lump 62kg to victory on what is his favourite course. The nine-year-old was a most popular winner with the crowd and his three generations of owners – Original trainer Alby MacGregor, his son and current trainer Dean of Rangiora and his son Matt who provided the strapper duties.
- Frenchman and former Singapore base rider Marc Lerner is now riding in New Zealand and made his first trip to Riccarton Park a winning one. He partnered TOUGH TIMES to win the Inglewood Stud at Karaka 2025 Rating 65. Club Life Member and great sponsor, Barry Thomas CNZM owns the gelding.
IN
Racing
Summer Racing Day 2 Review - 25 January
David Walsh gets first winner back training
January 27, 2025