Ann Browne gave punters a timely reminder about her proven record as a trainer when producing Havana City to win the $35,000 Pakuranga Hunt Cup with little effort at Ellerslie yesterday.
Browne and her well-respected late husband Ken were iconic trainers in the New Zealand jumps industry and the surprise victory by the 20-1 shot was well-received in The Mad Butcher-sponsored event.
Havana City was probably the fittest horse in the 4900m feature as the 11-year-old has had plenty of racing this season as well as plenty of training on the conditioning circuit on the Brownes Cambridge property.
Jockey Chad Ormsby had Havana City handily placed closed to the leaders throughout before joining stablemate Fair King heading down the renowned Ellerslie hill on the final occasion.
Havana City demonstrated superior stamina once he cleared the final fence. He powered home along the inner to win by 1 lengths over Waitete Boy with a further 3 lengths back to Fair King.
Hypnotize, attempting a hat-trick of wins in the Ellerslie feature, made ground late solidly for fourth, just over seven lengths behind the winner.
Hypnotize settled fifth throughout but was too far off the leaders over the closing 600m of the race to threaten.
The Browne stable had earlier won the feature $25,000 Open Hurdles with Mount Sinai completing a great day for the Cambridge trainer.
Another trainer in dominant form at Ellerslie yesterday was New Plymouth-based John Wheeler with stable rider Brett Scott teaming up with runners Orpheus and El Patron.
Scott parted company with Mali Juraj in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup but walked away.
Wheeler also won a race at the New Plymouth meeting yesterday with Pulsation.
STRATFORD TRAINER Richard Bishop has exciting times ahead with Keepereel, a 4-year-old daughter of Keeper, who convincingly won the $50,000 Interprovincial 1600m.
Keepereel, in the hands of apprentice jockey Masa Tanaka, scored by 1 lengths over Kuda Mahal with a further long head back to Sparking who was third.
Heading into the New Plymouth feature, Keepereel had some impressive form - one win and two placings from her last three starts - as did many other runners entered in the special conditions event.
However she still scored at juicy 9-1 odds despite boasting a faultless course record on the left-handed track.
Keepereel has scored three wins and three minor placings from 11 starts and will be worth following this season.
Racing: Browne stable to fore again
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