KEY POINTS:
Murray Baker was enjoying the sweet taste of feature race victory at Te Rapa yesterday after one of the most stressful periods of his life in recent weeks as a professional trainer.
Baker is without doubt one of the most talented and respected trainers in New Zealand but the master horseman was taught a new trick at Trentham racecourse two weeks ago.
The Baker-trained 2-year-old Fully Fledged had the Challenge Stakes won when kicking four lengths clear with 200m remaining but leapt the inside running rail and was pulled up.
Both jockey and racehorse were uninjured but the unplaced performance denied the brilliant youngster a starting berth in last Sunday's $1 million race at Ellerslie.
Baker produced the well-bred 3-year-old Nom Du Jeu to score a staggering victory in yesterday's Waikato Guineas (Group Three).
The Montjeu-sired colt responded to a brilliant ride from Noel Harris as this pair wove a path through the middle of the field in the home stretch sprinting powerfully down the outer to win by a short neck over Il Divo.
A further nose away in third position was the fast closing Sircross with Pierre Joseph alongside also impressing when he finished fourth.
Nom Du Jeu is well on track for the upcoming New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie next month.
"He's always being a very talented colt and it was a huge winning effort as he was weaving through the field when the others were sprinting and he took a lot of ground off those leaders over the last 200m," said Baker. "It was tough for him as a spring 3-year-old as he was carrying plenty of weight against older horses but he's come back from a short break in good order.
"He'll have one more run before the Derby and that'll most probably also be at Ellerslie. He's out of a mare that won over 3200m so there's no doubting he'll run out the 2400m of the Derby."
BOW LANE overcame a wide draw and some quality age group rivals to score a determined front running victory in the Foster Construction 1200.
The daughter of Russian Hero was well rated out in front by Sam Spratt and fought on in determined style to hold on and win by short head over the fast-closing pair of Dashing Donna and Special Mission.
Having racked up three wins from five starts, all over the sprint distance of 1200m, Bow Lane will not be difficult to place over the summer racing period for Ardmore-based trainer Stephen McKee.
Special Mission caught the eye with an impressive sprint finish along the rail in the home stretch after racing at the back of the field.
The favourite Mirandola raced on the speed throughout but battled into seventh position.
OPEN HANDICAP veterans Valley Chief and Desert Flight waged a home straight stride-for-stride battle in the Skycity Hamilton Cup and only a neck separated the pair at the finish.
Valley Chief sat outside the pace setting Desert Flight throughout snatching the photo finish victory narrowly with a further short head back to the third placed Prized Touch.
Fly 'N' High was another runner to record an impressive effort running home solidly into fourth position.
Yet again Charliehorse was backed into hot favouritism and ran on solidly into a midfield finishing position. His army of fans are still waiting for that brilliant sprint finish to appear as are the TAB bookmakers.
