Racing: McKay stable cock-a-hoop after double

There was plenty of crowing in the Peter McKay camp after the oddly named Warrentherooster won Saturday's listed Wanganui Guineas.

The day before the race, the low-key, likeable Matamata trainer tagged the 3-year-old colt the best of his chances, and given a 10/10 ride by Sam Spratt, he served it up to, and outgunned, his rivals.

McKay had wanted reasonable footing for the $120,000 purchase, of which he owns a half share. He got a slow 8, but it mattered little as Warrentherooster ran his foes ragged.

He will only get better as the tracks firm up, warned McKay, who was now looking at taking him to Riccarton for the Two Thousand Guineas on November 7.

From an outside draw, Spratt followed instructions to perfection, booting Warrentherooster to the lead and setting the terms.

They held a healthy lead at the home turn and the job was done 200m out.

"I was quite surprised how easily I got to the lead," said Spratt. "The track was chopping up a bit but he got through it nicely."

McKay was unsure how the well-bred galloper (Savabeel-Florida) got his name - he was named before arriving at his stable - but believed it related to a funny story involving a bloke called Warren.

Saturday's win was ample compensation for McKay, who didn't have fond memories of last year's Guineas. His rising star Vincent Mangano was a well beaten favourite and was later found to have contracted a virus. It's taken McKay the best part of a year to restore him to full health.

Graeme Nicholson stablemates Star Chaser and Timekeeper were second and third at long odds. There were few excuses for the rest. Favourite Oakwood only battled into fifth while expensive purchase Gaston never flattered after a slow getaway and ran sixth.One Swanstonstreet lived up to trainer Andrew Scott's expectations with a gritty win in the Carters-GIB Fillies race. She fought off favourite Te Akau Rose to win her first race at her third start.

Jockey David Walsh said he was momentarily headed by Te Akau Rose 200m out but his mount showed great courage to kick back and win.

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One Swanstonstreet was named after a bar in Melbourne, where her Christchurch owners had gathered for a night of revelry.

Mark Walker was satisfied with Te Akau Rose's effort after being caught wide. She will now go to the Canterbury Stakes at Riccarton in October.

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Walker's juvenile Big River carried off some huge bets with a convincing victory in the Grangewilliam, the season's first race for juveniles.

After a slow start, he edged up behind the leaders before strutting his stuff over the final 300m.

Peter Hurdle's Aladdin Prince, a Volksraad colt, was a game second while John Wheeler's well-bred Kylemore Abbey ran on for third.

Winning jockey James McDonald, just back from Singapore where he rode two winners for Big River's part-owner Laurie Laxon, said the colt had shown "heaps of promise" at the trials and the manner of his win on Saturday came as no surprise to him.

Walker said the General Nediym colt had huge potential and would benefit enormously from the experience. He will start next in the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham next month.

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Kevin Gray was delighted with Daffodil's run in the open 1200m ahead of the second leg of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown, the 1600m Winsdor Plate, at Hastings on Saturday week.

The mare, having her first run in over a month, got home strongly, finishing fourth behind dashing pacesetter Al Qurhah, who was the first leg of a winning double for Peter McKay and Sam Spratt.

"Opie [jockey Opie Bosson] said she was getting home the best. I asked him to settle her back and let her run, and he did as he was told. I'm very happy."

Al Qurhah will be freshened and be set for a tilt at the Stewards at Riccarton in November. Under-rated Wanganui mare Woodbury Belle pulled up a distant last and vets have asked trainer Stephen Crutchley to watch for any signs of injury or illness over the next few days.

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Grant Laursen hopes to get his trainer's licence renewed this week so he can train a gelding he part owns.

Laursen's 4-year-old first starter Dare T'Live won at big odds from an outside draw on Saturday. Foxton-based Laursen has spent most of the year in Perth, helping pre-train horses.

The meeting was also successful for Central Districts jockey Hayden Tinsley who bagged two winners, Te Horo Nugget and Just A Whisper, despite battling to ride under 56kg.

- WANGANUI CHRONICLE