Residential in all-the-way Valachi Downs win at Riccarton

[Chief Stipe]

Consistent mare Residential has landed the biggest win of her career with an all-the-way performance in Gr. 3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton today.

Carrying the familiar colours of her breeder and co-owner Waikato Stud, the Pins five-year-old gave her rivals a galloping lesson as she set up a consistent speed out in front and then defying them to run her down.

Visiting rider Robbie Hannam had Residential humming along sweetly and despite being challenged hard by Zabay and race favourite Contessa Vanessa, Residential wouldn’t surrender as she went to the line still with half a length over her pursuers. Zabay took second narrowly from Contessa Vanessa.

Karen Parsons, who prepares the mare with her husband John, was delighted with the win although admitting that Hannam hadn’t followed her pre-race instructions.

“It was super,” she said. “He pulled it off and the Waikato Stud will be very pleased.”

Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick paid tribute to ability of the mare’s trainers to keep her competitive at the top level throughout her career.

“John and Karen have done a wonderful job with her and I’m just as pleased for them as I am for her syndicate of owners to get the win today,” he said.

“She’s just a good tough racemare who always gives her best and I think she deserved that one after being thereabouts all season.

“She comes from a really good family and once again there was old Pins reminding us just what a good stallion he was over his long career at Waikato Stud.”

Residential is out of the stakes-placed Elusive City mare, Metropolitan, and from the family that includes Gr. 1 Railway Handicap winner Silver Liner, the dam of 1984-85 South African champion three-year-old filly, Petrava.

She is the eighth individual stakes winner for Pins this season, the most recent of which was the Hannam-ridden Emily Margaret in last Saturday’s Wellington Guineas.

Successful three times at Listed level as a three-year-old, Residential has now won nine of her 36 starts and more than $250,000 in stakes.

 

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