Racing: Consistency to fore again

McKee Benabar is the type of horse trainers or owners want in their stable and Ardmore trainer Stephen McKee is enjoying handling the consistent 4-year-old.

McKee races Benabar with his wife Fiona.

Benabar took his career record to three wins and two second placings from six starts when unleashing a powerful home stretch sprint down the centre of the track to win at Tauranga yesterday. He scored by a length over Caladesi with a further length back to La Bella Signora (third).

"He's only missed for us in one start and that was when he pulled a muscle at the start when racing at Ellerslie," said McKee. "It took him a couple of months to get over that injury and we think he's going to develop into a nice miler."

MICHAEL COLEMAN was the recipient of some well-earned "racing luck" and scored back-to-back wins in the opening two races.

The Mark Walker-trained Corsage threw away victory in the opening event when she ran erratically down the home straight and lost by a nose to the fast closing Miss Sharapova.

Corsage was given an ideal sit three back on the inner before working between runners at the top of the home stretch to pounce on the leaders. However she refused to run in a straight line for stable jockey James McDonald.

Miss Sharapova had to overcome her own traffic problems in the home stretch. Coleman sat patiently until there was clear galloping room along the rail when the pace-making The Lady rolled outwards under pressure.

Matamata-based trainer Ken Kelso is in no rush to push the exciting daughter of Ustinov who has looked very smart scoring two wins and one minor placing from five starts.

"We'll look at some of the better staying races for fillies later in the season as I do think she'll develop into a nice stayer." said Kelso.

Coleman had fellow jockey Andrew Calder to thank when combining with well-performed Veloce Bella to score by a narrow nose over the favourite Run Like Al.

Run Like Al, a renowned front and on-the-speed runner, was attacked in front during the opening stages of the 1600m event by Calder and Sanjeev.

While no jockey has "exclusive rights" to leading in a race - Run Like Al and Sam Spratt were a $1.80 favourite on the New Zealand TAB in a five-horse field - and Calder was the definite loser of this argument at the finishing post.

Coleman and Veloce Bella came from a distant fourth to gun down Run Like Al by a nose with a further long neck back to Spectacular Icon (third).

A further seven lengths away in a battling fourth position was Sanjeev.

The victory was a pleasing result for Matamata trainer Mark Brosnan who is recovering from a broken leg.

Veloce Bella caught the eye with a sustained sprint down the outer in her last-start when placed sixth behind Vosne Romanee in the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Coleman rode a perfect front running race later in the day to kicking home the Andrew Scott-trained Benedict to score a narrow victory.

Coleman was out in front and out of trouble and dodged a mid-race skirmish when Tarbach broke down and interfered with the heavily supported Lady Lucielle, putting that runner out of the race.

Benedict fought on gallantly in the home stretch to hold out the determined Bubbles and She's A Tomboy (third).