Trish Dunell Photography
Improving three-year Astor has laid down a marker to her fellow fillies heading to Hastings.
The daughter of Iffraaj has been set for the Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes on September 23 and she drew further attention to her black type prospects with an emphatic win at Taupo on Friday.
Astor raced keenly in front in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Race before she produced a strong kick in the straight for rider Chris Johnson to have a length and a-half advantage at the post.
Fresh runner and favourite Belle du Nord was lonely at the tail-end in the early stages and she ran on well for second ahead of Dijon Bleu, who was also making her seasonal debut.
“All I said to Chris was don’t get trapped on the rail,” Matamata trainer Danica Guy said.
“It was a month between runs and she was fired up early, but she still had plenty more in the straight so that was very positive.”
Astor had also been successful at her previous appearance at Hastings where she resumed after a lengthy injury-forced break following a debut third last November.
“She suffered a stress fracture of her tibia, which was very unfortunate but at least it wasn’t career-threatening,” Guy said.
Astor bagged an $8000 Pearl Series bonus at Taupo for her owner Gary Harding, who also previously won the race with his subsequent Group winners Fix (2012) and Bounding (2013). – NZ Racing Desk.