Summer’s Day
Trish Dunell
Tony Pike's most productive season as a public trainer hit another notable mark on Saturday at Tauranga where the ironically-named Summer's Day took the stable's tally of black type winners for 2015-16 into double figures.
The Cambridge horseman has now produced 76 winners for the term, his previous highest tally was 40, including the New Zealand Derby with Rangipo while across the Tasman he recently celebrated Group One success with Provocative and Sacred Elixir.
The performance of Summer's Day in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic lit up the gloomiest of days and capped her fast rise through the grades.
"She's been a great little mare to us and she's only finished out of the first four twice in 17 starts," said Pike's father Wayne.
"Her work had been very good and we were confident where she was in that respect, but she had never raced on anything like this before."
The winner of both her previous two appearances at Ellerslie, Summer's Day was in behind the leader early and rider Vinnie Colgan let her stride to the front 500 metres from home.
The Darci Brahma mare, a $30,000 Karaka purchase as a weanling, cleared out in the run home to win by two and a half lengths.
"It's been a great season and this is special as she's a family horse," Pike said.
The central districts visitor Aide Memoire, the winner of the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup at her previous appearance, fought on tenaciously for second after setting the early pace with Designated Driver third ahead of Underthemoonlight. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Cambridge horseman has now produced 76 winners for the term, his previous highest tally was 40, including the New Zealand Derby with Rangipo while across the Tasman he recently celebrated Group One success with Provocative and Sacred Elixir.
The performance of Summer's Day in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic lit up the gloomiest of days and capped her fast rise through the grades.
"She's been a great little mare to us and she's only finished out of the first four twice in 17 starts," said Pike's father Wayne.
"Her work had been very good and we were confident where she was in that respect, but she had never raced on anything like this before."
The winner of both her previous two appearances at Ellerslie, Summer's Day was in behind the leader early and rider Vinnie Colgan let her stride to the front 500 metres from home.
The Darci Brahma mare, a $30,000 Karaka purchase as a weanling, cleared out in the run home to win by two and a half lengths.
"It's been a great season and this is special as she's a family horse," Pike said.
The central districts visitor Aide Memoire, the winner of the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup at her previous appearance, fought on tenaciously for second after setting the early pace with Designated Driver third ahead of Underthemoonlight. – NZ Racing Desk.
