Trish Dunell
Pukekohe galloper City Boy demonstrated his affinity for Ruakaka’s sand based surface when he
dominated his rivals in a four-length thrashing over 1200 metres on the weekend.
The Richard Collett trained four-year- old made it two wins from three starts at the venue as he took
his career record to three wins and six minor placings from just 14 starts. Normally a model of
consistency, as his record indicates, the Elusive City gelding had blotted his copybook somewhat
when finishing well back at his last start however his trainer was quick to explain away the
performance.
“He was a certainty beaten at Te Rapa last time as he nearly fell over at the start,” he said.
“He’s a bit of a horses for courses type as he’s a Taupo winner and has won here before so he loves
this type of surface.
“He’s probably the fittest he’s been in this prep and this suited him ideally.”
Settled outside pacemaker Super Lethal throughout the race, rider Alysha Collett had a lapful of
horse under her rounding the home bend. Asked to sprint hard, City Boy dashed away and held a
comfortable margin to the winning post despite Collett easing him down over the final 100 metres.
“Last start was disappointing when he tripped coming out of the barrier but today he was first out
and travelling comfortably,” she noted.
“The little bit of sting out of the ground really suited him.”
The win capped off a fine day out for Collett who had earlier picked up victories on impressive two-
year-old Florence Jean, Zafrenzy and the dead-heater Creative Genius. That took her season’s tally to
94 and places her in second equal spot on the National Premiership table, just six shy of her first
century of wins in a racing season. – NZ Racing Desk