Training honours decided in last stride
OAMARU: The battle for South Island thoroughbred training honours came down to the last race of the season yesterday.
It ended in favour of the Yaldhurst fatherandson training partnership of Michael and Matthew Pitman who won the last race of the day’s programme with St Andre, who beat the Terry Kennedytrained Anjameme in a tight finish.
The victory took their tally for the season to 58 wins.
Earlier, the Pitmans scored in race 5 with former North Island galloper Benaud.
Then, in the following race, Riverton fatheranddaughter trainers Kelvin and Aimee Tyler levelled the contest at 57 wins when Dunhill won by 13 lengths over 2200m.
The Pitmans and the Tylers sit third and fourth respectively on the national trainers premiership, which is headed by Jamie Richards (160 wins), with Stephen Marsh (90 wins) in second.
Underrated winter galloper Tappy’s One cemented his claim to being the most improved horse in commission in the South Island with a gritty win in the Oamaru Cup (1600m).
The 4yrold son of Proisir
❛ It was always the intention to run in the Winter Cup and that extra $36,000 would be a pretty good reward for two weeks’ work
joined the Kerry and Ian Taplin stable at the start of the year after nine runs for Ardmore trainer Stephen McKee, which netted a solitary victory at Tauranga as a 2yryearold.
After three unplaced runs, Tappy’s One scored his first southern victory over 1600m at Timaru in May and has proved a model of consistency since with four further wins from five starts, including the Amberley Cup at Riccarton at his previous run.
Handled patiently by rider
Chris Johnson, Tappy’s One sat three wide on the testing heavy11 surface before sliding forward to tackle pacemaker Quiz Kid at the 400m.
Johnson pushed the button on Tappy’s One early in the run home and he shot away from stablemate Ritani before holding out a determined late run from Take The Deel who took second off Ritani in the last 50m.
Ian Taplin was thrilled to get the win.
‘‘He is just doing it on sheer class as he doesn’t really handle the wet,’’ Taplin said.
‘‘You would think I’m mad saying that, but when we have seen him gallop at home on top of the ground I just can’t wait to get him up to 2000m on good ground as I think he will be even better.
‘‘It was a super run today and Chris didn’t knock him around as he knew we’ve got an even bigger mission in a fortnight.’’
Taplin was referring to the $100,000 Winter Cup over 1600m at Riccarton Park on August 7.
A late nomination will be made for Tappy’s One for the feature flat race at the Christchurch Winter carnival.
If he is successful at Riccarton, Tappy’s One will earn a $36,000 bonus put up by the Oamaru Jockey Club for any horse that can win both the Oamaru and Winter Cups.
‘‘It was always the intention to run in the Winter Cup and that extra $36,000 would be a pretty good reward for two weeks’ work,’’ Taplin said.
‘‘I’m not too sure what weight he will get but we have to have a go now.’’
TAB Bookmakers reacted swiftly to the victory, installing Tappy’s One as the $4.50 secondfavourite in the fixedodds market behind impressive Opunake Cup winner Justaskme.
Bred by Taplin and his late father Syd, Tappy’s One is raced by Taplin and the estate of New Zealand Racing Hall Of Fame trainer Trevor McKee, who bought him for $20,000 out of the Rich Hill Stud draft during the book 2 sale at Karaka in 2018.
He is a son of useful racemare Tappy Lee and comes from an extended family that includes multiple stakes winners Petanque, Red Baron and Levin Classic winner Bunker. — NZ Racing Desk