An impressive win by Testwin and excellent hit-outs by Blissful Belle, Candle and Anaroa were the highlights at today’s Hastings jumpouts.
There were 12 heats run on the course proper, about 12 metres out from the inside rail, where the ground was described as heavy.
Testwin contested one of nine 800m heats and scored an emphatic 1-1/4 length win in the hands of experienced jockey Johnathan Parkes.
The Time Test three-year-old jumped out smartly from the barrier to take a clear lead and was not really extended over the final stages, with his winning time of 51.72s being one of the best of the day.
Testwin was impressive when winning on debut over 1600m at Hastings in January and followed that up with a third at Wanganui in February before he was turned out for a spell. He has returned a much stronger horse and trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos plan to have him resuming on the racetrack at the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival.
Blissful Belle clocked the fastest time of the 800m heats when she got up to snatch a last stride win in a close five-horse finish in a time of 51.00s.
The John Bary-trained mare won by half a head from Candle, with Rockburn snatching third on the line from Go Hugo and The Stoney One. All five horses are also being prepared for the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival.
Blissful Belle has not raced since finishing third in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on March 30 while second placed Candle hasn’t raced since finishing runner-up over 1400m at Ellerslie on March 9.
Anaroa led all the way to win his 800m heat and also recorded a creditable time of 51.19s. He was a winner over 2040m at Tauherenikau at the beginning of the year and his connections thought highly enough of him to run him in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie in March. He also looks to have come back a stronger horse after a spell.
RESULTS
Heat 1 | 2500m
Dictation (K Hercock) 1, Galileo Invader 2, Donardo 3. Five starters. Margins: 12 lengths, 10 lengths. Time: 3:06.75. Winner trained by Paul Nelson & Corrina McDougal, Hastings.
Heat 2 | 800m
Imani (J Riddell) 1, Ivy Lee 2, Savabeel-Slimline 2yr-old filly 3. Four starters. Margins: ½ length, 3-1/2 lengths. Time: 53.69s. Winner trained by John Bary, Hastings.
Heat 3 | 800m
Detrimental (J Riddell) 1, Ocean Park-Mandalong Belle 2yr-old gelding 2, Twist Of Fait 3. Five starters. Margins: ¾ length, neck. Time: 53.25s. Winner trained by John Bary, Hastings.
Heat 4 | 800m
Uncle Barry (K Chowdhoory) 1, Telperion-Red Carpet 2yr-old filly 2, Cut And Run 3. Three starters. Margins: 2-1/2 lengths, 3 lengths. Time: 52.63s. Winner trained by Guy Lowry & Leah Zydenbos, Hastings.
Heat 5 | 800m
Debbie Harri (A Mudhoo) 1, Bullion 2, Gotta Be Dreamin 3. Five starters. Margins: 1-1/2 lengths, 1 length. Time: 51.53s. Winner trained by John Bary, Hastings.
Heat 6 | 800m
Proisir 3yr-old filly (K Hercock) 1, Sleight Of Hand 2, Cheers Not Tears 3. Four starters. Margins: Neck, head. Time: 52.57s. Winner trained by Mick Brown & Sue Thompson, Hastings.
Heat 7 | 800m
Speed Dial (K Chowdhoory) 1, Per Incanto-Deb 3yr-old gelding 2, Wickham 3. Three starters. Margins: 1-1/4 lengths, 1-1/2 lengths. Time: 52.50s. Winner trained by Guy Lowry & Leah Zydenbos, Hastings.
Heat 8 | 800m
Anaroa (K Chowdhoory) 1, Psyclone 2, Lohnaghan 3. Four starters. Margins: 1-1/4 lengths, 1 length. Time: 51.19s. Winner trained by Guy Lowry & Leah Zydenbos, Hastings.
Heat 9 | 800m
Testwin (J Parkes) 1, Poukawa 2, Say I Do 3. Five starters. Margins: 1-1/4 lengths, neck. Time: 51.72s. Winner trained by Guy Lowry & Leah Zydenbos, Hastings.
Heat 10 | 800m
Blissful Belle (J Riddell) 1, Candle 2, Rockburn 3. Five starters. Margins: ½ head, short neck. Time: 51.00s. Winner trained by John Bary, Hastings.
Heat 11 | 1000m
Carmenere (K Chowdhoory ) 1, Anushka Shesastar 2, Falcons Diamond 3. Four starters. Margins: 3 lengths, 2 lengths. Time: 1:08.31. Winner trained by Lucy de Lautour, Waipukurau.
Heat 12 | 1000m
Who’s Sam (K Chowdhoory) 1, Radiant Lass 2, Dublin Castle 3. Four starters. Margins: Long neck, 2 lengths. Time: 1:09.95. Winner trained by Lucy de Lautour, Waipukurau