Biggin Hill
Trish Dunell
A gritty performance to score a narrow but deserved victory in the day's open class sprint may signal perennial bridesmaid Biggin Hill has finally discovered just where the winning post is.
The seven-year-old Falvelon gelding has compiled a handy career record where he has finished in the first three placings in 27 of his 45 starts however only six of those have been victories. On Saturday the Richard Collett trained gelding showed just how effective he can be when his mind is on the job as he hunted down pacemakers Amarula and Statham to score narrowly but well in the New Zealand Bloodstock Finance sponsored 1200 metre contest.
"He's tended to be a bit of a bridesmaid but with a bit of confidence he seems to have turned it round of late and wants to win races," noted Collett's wife Judy, who was in charge of the horse on the day.
"He's a handy horse who's not up to Group One level but he does have the ability to win races.
"Now he's sorted himself out I think his owner will have a lot of fun with his racing."
There was an element of drama added to the final result with the Ruakaka protest siren sounding to indicate an inquiry against the winner after interference was alleged in the concluding stages. After deliberations by the judicial panel the charge was dismissed with no change to placings.
Collett was also delighted with the performance of the stable's former top juvenile Selfie who caught the eye in his first run of this campaign with a barnstorming finish in behind the placegetters earlier in the day.
"It was a really nice run as he got back with the big weight early in the race," she said.
"It was a big effort to carry 61kgs and run on like that so we will now look forward to the future."
Selfie was having his first start as a four-year-old following a somewhat disappointing three-year-old campaign that saw him put aside after finishing near last in the Listed Karaka Three-Year-Old Mile back in January. – NZ Racing Desk
The seven-year-old Falvelon gelding has compiled a handy career record where he has finished in the first three placings in 27 of his 45 starts however only six of those have been victories. On Saturday the Richard Collett trained gelding showed just how effective he can be when his mind is on the job as he hunted down pacemakers Amarula and Statham to score narrowly but well in the New Zealand Bloodstock Finance sponsored 1200 metre contest.
"He's tended to be a bit of a bridesmaid but with a bit of confidence he seems to have turned it round of late and wants to win races," noted Collett's wife Judy, who was in charge of the horse on the day.
"He's a handy horse who's not up to Group One level but he does have the ability to win races.
"Now he's sorted himself out I think his owner will have a lot of fun with his racing."
There was an element of drama added to the final result with the Ruakaka protest siren sounding to indicate an inquiry against the winner after interference was alleged in the concluding stages. After deliberations by the judicial panel the charge was dismissed with no change to placings.
Collett was also delighted with the performance of the stable's former top juvenile Selfie who caught the eye in his first run of this campaign with a barnstorming finish in behind the placegetters earlier in the day.
"It was a really nice run as he got back with the big weight early in the race," she said.
"It was a big effort to carry 61kgs and run on like that so we will now look forward to the future."
Selfie was having his first start as a four-year-old following a somewhat disappointing three-year-old campaign that saw him put aside after finishing near last in the Listed Karaka Three-Year-Old Mile back in January. – NZ Racing Desk