Racing: CD raider takes Classic

Lisa Latta is becoming a deadly raider of feature events in the Auckland-Waikato region which was highlighted by Sacha's impressive victory in the $45,000 Tauranga Classic at Greerton yesterday.

The Awapuni-based trainer is currently fifth in the New Zealand Trainers Premiership with 52 wins and over $700,000 in stake earnings.

Latta made it back-to-back wins in the feature 1400m weight-for-age event when Sacha powered to a 1 length victory over Headsup with a half length back to Pinzee (third).

Zana scored an upset victory for Latta in this event last year but Sacha was certainly more heavily supported.

The 4-year-old daughter of Keeper was making her course debut on the tricky right-handed track but lengthened stride easily in the home stretch on an extremely heavy track to leave her rivals struggling.

An eye-catching third at Ellerslie last week was a positive pointer to her excelling in the step up in distance to 1400m.

With seven wins and seven minor placings from 25 starts, Sacha, has been a good performer for Latta and victory in the listed event can only increase her broodmare value.

KEN KELSO may have trained a lot of more talented runners than Montjee but nobody can fault the consistency of the 7-year-old.

Montjee showed plenty of stamina and fight when it mattered waging a length of the home straight battle with the opposition lasting to win by a nose over Halls with a further 1 lengths back to Strapped For Cash (third).

The victory in the $45,000 (Listed) Kiwifruit Cup was the 7-year-olds fifth in 30 starts on top of 10 minor placings.

Kelso had the gelding primed for a top performance in this event, his third run back from a spell.

DAVID WALSH hasn't ridden an easy winner in a long time when teaming up with Aruriteson to run the opposition into submission in the final event.

The 4-year-old was travelling strongly throughout in the heavy track conditions clearing out in the home stretch to score by eight lengths over Justine's Pride with a further length back to Cottonwood Sky (third).

Aruriteson was backing up after a gutsy fourth placing at Ellerslie last week and was allowed to control the tempo of the race which proved too tough a task for yesterday's opposition.