KEY POINTS:
Peter McKay had two reasons to celebrate the effortless victory posted by ultra-consistent 3-year-old Alamosa in yesterday's $100,000 Avondale Guineas.
For the Matamata-based trainer and part-owner there was the satisfaction of the seeing the colt son of O'Reilly toying with his rivals in the 1600m event.
The post-race conversation with successful jockey Gavin McKeon also proved pleasing for McKay.
"I guess there may be some concern if Alamosa would run out 2000m but after talking to Gavin, I have no worries about stepping him up in distance in his next start," said McKay.
"We rode him forward in the Avondale Guineas and there was a far bit of speed on in the early part of the race and we were right around it but our horse dropped the bit and relaxed.
"The horse picked the bit up again in the home straight when Gavin asked for another effort and I'm sure he'll handle stepping up to 2000m."
Alamosa's next race start will be a Group One showdown at Ellerslie on Boxing Day with Xcellent and Sir Slick in the Zabeel Classic.
McKay prefers this event to the (Group Two) $150,000 Great Northern Guineas (2100m).
"We'll have plenty of time to race him against his own age group if we decide to start him in the New Zealand Derby in March at Ellerslie.
"That's a decision that is in the future. This horse has continued to surprise me as he has put on body weight since we raced him in the 2000 Guineas in Christchurch and I had to give him two gallops this week to prepare him for this race.
"He looks good and is racing well and while that's happening we'll keep ticking him over."
Mirkola Lass returned to winning form with an impressive home stretch sprint to narrowly take out the $30,000 York Cup.
Jockey Michael Walker patiently handled the 5-year-old mare settling the Kenny Rae-trained star four places back against the rail awaiting clear racing space in the home straight.
Mirkola Lass lengthened stride impressively and pounced on the leaders and fought to win by a head over Vivaldi's Gone with a further long neck back to Twinkling (third).
Rae had the mare primed for a bold performance in the 2000m feature, this race being her third following a spell, after an impressive winter campaign in Queensland.
Mirkola Lass raced with credit on her winter campaign recorded placed performances in the Group rated Chairman's Handicap, Tatt's and Brisbane Cups.
With four wins and 13 minor placings from 30 starts, Mirkola Lass will have considerable value as a broodmare, particularly with her black type performances in Brisbane.
