Annie Lindahl post race.
- The first racemeeting of 2025 underwent a change from 2024 becoming a twilight meeting as part of an Entain strategy to schedule this timetable every Wednesday from November to March. Consequently, every race carried a $25,000 stake.
- Travellers won the two distance maiden races with Samantha Logan from Cambridge saddling WRY SMILE to win the 2000 metres event, the first on the card, and Wingatui conditioner Terry Kennedy, produced PEEKAY to win race two over 1600 metres.
- Terri Rae saddled two runners in the day’s highest rated race the Karaka 2025 Rating 75 over 1200 metres. TEXAS DOLLY started favourite but had to settle for second behind stablemate and topweight SOUTH OF HOUSTON.
- No-one travelled further for the day than Swedish jockey Annie Lindahl. Staying in Auckland Annie flew into Christchurch to take two rides for Rangiora trainer John Blackadder. Million-dollar earner ex-Hong Kong galloper SUPER RED DRAGON ran sixth behind ON FILE in the Corin and Bobbity Murfitt Rating 65 but QUICK STORY made the trip worthwhile winning the last race, the Racecourse Hotel Rating 65 over the 2000 metres distance.