Chief Stipe Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Unwanted morning showers have forced a track downgrade and a number of late scratchings ahead of today’s Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup race meeting. First thing this morning the track was rated Dead5 after 19mm of rain in the previous 24 hours, and another 17mm since sent the track out to Slow7. The most notable late scratchings were Gr. 1 Sistema Stakes runners Equinox and Beauty Diva and Race 5 pre-post favourite Rhinestone Cowboy. The opening race, the White Cliffs Timber 1200, brought a change on fortune for Spindle, who was so unlucky when blocked for a run on the opening day of the carnival. This time rider Cameron Lammas had the Stephen McKee-trained mare travelling in the clear on the pace and she responded readily when it counted, shaking off her stablemate Breeze On over the final stages to score by a length and a half. Spindle, a five-year-old by in-form stallion Pins, is raced in partnership by breeders Waikato Stud and the Auckland Racing Club Winners Circle Syndicate, which is managed by ARC Director Brent Cooper. Past successes on the track for the Winners Circle Syndicate include two by Spindle and the 2009 Listed Soliloquy Stakes by another raced on lease from Waikato Stud, the No Excuse Needed filly Masquerade. Spindle covered the 1200 metres in 1:12.2 on a track described by Lammas as holding “quote a bit of moisture”. “They’re working quite hard in it,” he said. View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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