New Zealand Cup winner captures the gold at Kumara

[Wandering Eyes]

The in-form combination of rider Floor Moerman and trainer Kevin Myers delivered in spades once again on the West Coast circuit as quality mare Bozo (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) produced a mammoth staying performance to claim the time-honoured Vernon & Vazey 0800 Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) on Saturday.

Moerman, who had tasted success aboard Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) for Kenny Rae earlier in the day, had produced winning trebles at both the Omoto meeting on 3 January and at Reefton four days later, with the Omoto victories coming aboard Myers-trained runners.

Myers has a long history of supporting West Coast racing and he didn’t disappoint in the day’s feature, lining up three strong contenders in race favourite Sunset Boulevard (NZ) (Eminent) ($2.60), Kick On (NZ) (Per Incanto) ($6.50) and 2025 Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Bozo ($3.60).

Sunset Boulevard looked set for victory when rider Tina Comignaghi pushed the go button from outside pacemaker Shaking Stevens (NZ) (American Pharoah) at the 700m and applied enormous pressure to his rivals, shooting three lengths clear turning for home.

Moerman and Bozo had been content to settle in midfield early on but got shunted four wide as Sunset Boulevard made his bid for glory and looked to be running for minor money as she struggled to make an impression on her stablemate in the early stages of the home straight.

Moerman kept at her and when the turbo kicked in the daughter of Satono Aladdin simply flew over the final 100m to storm to a half-length victory from the late closing In Vegas (NZ) (Telperion) and Iffididit (NZ) (Iffraaj).

Stable representative Luke Myers was all smiles as he reiterated the stable’s desire to support racing in the region.

“Every time she has come down South she has picked up a win and it is great winning these Cups, as we have had a lot of luck with these colours” Myers said.

“She (Moerman) is an apprentice on the rise as we told her to make sure she had clear air and she popped off the rail and down the back she had her (Bozo) in the right spot to chase Sunset (Boulevard).

“This is a special Carnival and all these tracks put on a fantastic spectacle so long may it continue.”

Moerman was worried at different stages of the race but once the mare kicked into gear she knew she was on a winner.

“That was really cool and she had to do it the tough way as we were four wide, but I saw Sunset was in front and I knew he would kick away and be hard to beat,” she said.

“I just had to keep her going and while she felt a bit flat on the turn, when we straightened up she was just too tough.”

Bozo races in the colours of the Australian-based Hill family who also owned the talented sprinter-miler Scapolo (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) who won 20 races from the Myers stable including the Gr.2, Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m), the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) and the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), while he was also placed on 13 separate occasions at stakes level.

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