Tony Pike pulled the right rein with a quick back up for his rising staying star Chenille, who will now head for the spelling paddock on a perfect note.
The Cambridge trainer had no hesitation in sending Pentire's daughter south for yesterday's Listed Fasttrackinsurance Hawke's Bay Gold Cup, which she duly added to her record after a third placing in the Te Aroha Cup a week ago.
"I was really happy with that run on a track that wasn't playing easily," Pike said. "We had to ride her conservatively as it was four weeks between runs for her and she got a long way back. With the bias on the day we weren't a winning chance, but she finished off well and was a lot fitter for the run."
Chenille enjoyed a good run in midfield at Hastings before rider Danielle Johnson found herself in a spot of bother.
"Obviously she had a pull in the weights, but it was still a good effort," Pike said. "They got held up at the 600 and were going backward when they should have been going forward."
