Racing: Cameron's choice benefits rival

The closing 100m of the $50,000 Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie yesterday was not an enjoyable experience for jockey Cameron Lammas.

The young jockey was forced to make a decision between riding either Imananabaa and Velvet And Satin in the listed event.

Lammas chose to ride Velvet And Satin in the New Zealand Bloodstock-sponsored race and subsequently gifted Reese Jones an easy winning riding fee.

Jones gave Imananabaa a dream sit on the inner throughout the running of the 1400m event, and angled the long-striding daughter of Anabaa out into the middle of the track to challenge in the home stretch.

Imananabaa lengthened stride effortlessly to pounce on the leaders and drew clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths over the fast closing Velvet And Satin. A further three-quarters of a length away in third position was the favourite Whodat Cugat.

"Imananabaa was a great pick-up ride and Cameron [Lammas] was the first person to come up and congratulate me after the race," said Jones.

"It's never an easy decision when you have two good rides starting in one race, and nine times out of 10 you can make the wrong call.

"She's a lovely striding filly and with the even speed set in front she relaxed beautifully against the rail.

"With more racing she's only going to get better and I was really impressed by the way she quickened up in the home straight when I asked her to sprint.

"If she continues to learn to relax in her races, there's no doubt she'll cope with plenty of racing this season."

But it didn't take long for Lammas to return to the winner's circle after the Soliloquy Stakes disappointment.

Lammas teamed up with the Jim Gibbs-trained Devoted in the next race and scored an impressive long-neck victory over the pace setting Mi Jubilee. A further head away in third position was Pin Up Boy.

The race was dominated by on-the-pace runners, with the first three placegetters all on the speed throughout the running of the 1200m event.

Lammas had Devoted well positioned tracking the leaders throughout and the 7-year-old came with some powerful big strides down the outer late to grab the win.

Devoted has been a good performer for Gibbs, scoring eight wins and five minor placings from 20 starts.

Gibbs produced Devoted in good order considering this was his first race outing following a five-month break.

Mi Jubilee also impressed with a gritty effort, although she did have the assistance of a 2kg apprentice claim.

Pin Up Boy will be the big improver from this event.

The 5-year-old tracked Mi Jubilee throughout and will strip a far fitter horse after this run - his second following a six-month break.

Matamata trainers Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott made two correct decisions with filly Bonaichi leading into the $50,000 Stella Artois Bonecrusher Stakes.

Firstly they decided to accept with the 3-Year-Old filly in both the Bonecrusher Stakes and the Soliloquy Stakes. After considering prospective barrier draws they decided to start her in the Bonecrusher Stakes.

Bonaichi rewarded her trainers with a determined performance settling beautifully behind the speed against the rail in the hands of Chad Ormsby. This combination came with a sustained finish along the inner to score by a length over Do Me A Favour with a further head back to the solid finishing favourite Magic Cape (third).

"She's not a big filly but what she lacks in size she makes up for with her attitude," he said. "Chad gave her a beautiful sit off the pace and she really climbed into it down the home straight."

O'Sullivan said the plan this season was to get some black-type performances into Bonaichi and that had been achieved to some degree with her victory in this listed stakes event.

"She does hold a nomination for the 1000 Guineas in Christchurch in November but Andrew and I will have to sit down and discuss what we want to do. If she does head to Christchurch, she'll have one more lead-up race."