Racing: A crafty ride on star filly

Singapore Sling with Vinnie Colgan (dark colours) aboard winning at Ellerslie yesterday. Photo / NZPA

Vinnie Colgan must have wondered what he had got himself into when checking the form guide before the running of the $45,000 Soliloquy Lodge 3YO Stakes at Ellerslie yesterday.

Colgan has won a stack of feature races at Ellerslie and was making a return to race riding at the track where he injured himself several months ago.

The 1400m fillies feature had Colgan combining with the speedy but erratic Singapore Sling who disgraced herself in her last-start when running off the track during a race at Te Rapa and being pulled up.

The daughter of Starcraft was certainly not the type of ride you would want when returning from injury but Colgan is a talented jockey who thrives on a challenge.

Colgan rode the 3-year-old to perfection settling back off the speed and tracking the favourite Dating in every stride down the home straight, scoring by a short head over this runner.

A further three-quarters of a length away in third position was Cool Storm.

Te Aroha-based trainer Lisa Anderson certainly has an exciting filly in her stable - debuting right-handed in Listed Stakes company - and defeating a class athlete like Dating.

Anderson has put plenty of work into this filly getting her to race more kindly and more importantly in a straight line when it mattered increasing her broodmare value with yesterday's victory.

* * *

Punters are learning quickly to watch the 2 and 3-year-old equine athletes that Ardmore-based trainer Stephen McKee takes to the racetrack.

McKee has a knack of peaking talented youngsters when the serious stake money is on offer and he produced Hoofit in faultless physical condition to win the (Listed) $45,000 Bonecrusher Stakes.

The well-built colt by Mossman likes a decent physical confrontation with the opposition and showed plenty of determination when it mattered scoring by a nose over Sweet Suitor in the 1400m event.

Right alongside this pair and a further head away in third position was Gold Card.

McKee had the colt primed for this event after a handy fresh-up fifth placing at Ruakaka.

Ellerslie has been a happy hunting ground the McKee-trained youngster who has scored two wins and one minor placing from six starts.

* * *

The Missing Link was one runner that certainly appreciated the Heavy 11 track conditions at Ellerslie, powering through the mud to score a narrow but determined victory in the $40,000 Remuera Fisheries Mitchelson Cup.

The 6-year-old son of Montjeu had to show plenty of stamina and fight to reel in a determined I'm Isaac to win by a short neck. A further 2 lengths away third was Seeking The Silver.

Cambridge trainer Brad Peterson has certainly given the gelding plenty of racing - 34 starts for five wins and five minor placings - adding a time honoured winter flat feature to his career record.