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You had to feel sorry for one punter when Pondarosa Miss won at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Well, almost.
Had Pondarosa Miss done at Te Rapa two weeks earlier what she did on Saturday the unnamed punter would have picked up around $350,000 from a boxed multi.
The punter took the winners Bellino, Spin Doctor, Farm Boy and Frankly into Pondarosa Miss, who was more than a touch unlucky in finishing third.
Still, the bet returned the punter $65,000, so he didn't cry for long.
Pondarosa Miss simply thrashed her Ellerslie opposition. The sprint she turned on to burst away from the opposition in the home straight is going to take her to some pretty good heights for part-owner and trainer Peter Hollinshead.
The Hollinshead family took a punt with five high-priced services to High Chaparral, which turned to gold. They sold four of the results of those services for good money and have kept Pondarosa Miss.
"She can have a month in the paddock now," said Hollinshead yesterday.
"When she comes back I think you'll see her shine as a stayer."
If the filly can produce a sprint like she showed on Saturday at the end of a staying contest she will win her way to the top.
The racing industry in Waikato looks to centralise operations.