KEY POINTS:
Ruakaka trainer Kenny Rae was adamant that outstanding racemare Mirkola Lass would handle tough back-to-back racing assignments and his judgement was vindicated at Te Rapa yesterday.
The Rae-trained Mirkola Lass unleashed a blistering sprint down the outer of the track to win the $120,000 Waikato Times Gold Cup effortlessly.
Mirkola Lass raced last Saturday in the York Cup at Avondale and that race outing clearly sharpened her fitness for the Te Rapa assignment.
The 5-year-old produced an eye-catching turn of speed when it mattered, coming from the back of the field to post an easy 1 1/4 length victory over topweight Kerry O'Reilly in yesterday's Group Two feature.
A further long neck away in third position was Bold Contact.
Mirkola Lass won with such authority that it is going to take a particularly smart performance to deny her further winning glory at Ellerslie on New Year's Day in the $200,000 (Group Two) City Of Auckland Cup.
"She deserved a big win and after the way she worked on Thursday, I knew she was in great order," said Rae. "We're definitely starting at Ellerslie on New Year's Day but how we place her in terms of the weight penalties incurred is another issue.
"I could just sit at home with her and try and wait and pick and choose what we do but then she could go and injure herself.
"She's fit and well and enjoys racing so we'll just push on and see what happens," said Rae.
Mirkola Lass has been a wonderfully consistent performer for Rae coming second in last season's Waikato and Wellington Cups.
An outstanding winter campaign and spell in Brisbane saw the mare return to Rae's stable in great order.
Television broadcaster Adrian Clark may have the last laugh on leading thoroughbred breeder Sir Patrick Hogan at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
The Clark-owned Sarajay bounced back to winning form impressively at Te Rapa yesterday unleashing a blistering sprint along the fence to post a half-length victory over stablemate Everswindell in the $120,000 (Group Two) Gasmate Stakes.
Sarajay will have her next start in the Group One Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie clashing with Xcellent, Sir Slick and Alamosa.
Sarajay is safely in foal to resident Cambridge Stud stallion Zabeel, a costly six figure exercise for Clark, who may yet recoup some of that outlay from Hogan, who sponsors the feature weight-for-age event on Boxing Day.
The 7-year-old mare was patiently ridden in classic fashion by Noel Harris, settling well off the speed and weaving between runners in the home stretch in search of clear racing room.
Sarajay pounced powerfully on the leaders along the inner over the closing 100m and the victory was pleasing for John Sargent who trained three of the first four home.
Without doubt the run of the race was recorded by the second placegetter Everswindell who sat in last position throughout the running.
Everswindell worked through the pack at the top of the home stretch and stormed home impressively out wide, an worthwhile pointer, to her win prospects in the upcoming City Of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.
Martini Red took full advantage of a 2kg apprentice claim allowance and led throughout to score a determined victory in the $20,000 Wentwood Grange Premier.
The 3-year-old daughter of Red Ransom was well-rated in front throughout by James McDonald and fought on in determined fashion to win by 1 1/4 lengths over the fast-closing Lovetrista and Abbey Way.
The favourite, Crossyourheart, sat outside the winner throughout but struggled to head the other filly in the home stretch and could only battle into fourth position.
Lovetrista ran a pleasing trial for the upcoming Eight Carat Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day when finishing strongly along the rails for second.
