Racing: Beejayjay provides gold returns

It was a case of second time lucky for Levin trainer Peter McKenzie when his hardy galloper Beejayjay won the $27,500 Kumara Gold Nuggets Handicap at Kumara, on the West Coast, on Saturday.

McKenzie ventured south for the same meeting last year but it was called off after four races because of heavy rain.

"We returned this year and even though there was a lot of rain during the week the track was in remarkable order, a credit to the club - in fact I thought the track may have been too good," McKenzie said.

"Beejayjay has been racing on tracks which just haven't suited him, but with the easing there today it did make all the difference and it was a perfect ride by Chris Johnson."

Johnson settled Beejayjay two back on the outside while the Paul Harris-trained Live The Reality made the pace.

Johnson sent Beejayjay forward to challenge on the turn and had to call on all his skills to overhaul Live The Reality.

"I was always travelling well and had a good sit," Johnson said.

"I moved up to Live The Reality and went to go past, but it kicked again on me and I thought, hang on a minute, we have got a fight on our hands."

Johnson pushed Beejayjay forward again and the horse scored by three quarters of a length from topweight Starbo.

Live The Reality was third.

Added Johnson: "He ranged up and when I really called on him, he responded again. At the line he was travelling."

McKenzie scratched Empyreal from the same race after deciding to give the horse time to recover from his run for sixth in the City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) but was more than happy with his second stringer.

"Beejayjay is such a tough old dude and takes an enormous amount of work," he said.

"We gallop him at the beach as he has such a hard action in front. He is quite an exceptional galloper when he gets the right track to suit. We will chase the [wet] tracks with him."

Starbo's effort for second was a good one.

He finished strongly from three back on the fence while jockey Jamie Bullard was full of praise for Live The Reality.

"You have to be happy with that run, he was taken on all the way and kicked hard in the run home," Bullard said.

"It was a big effort and he will improve with the run."

- NZPA