Less than a neck separated the first three home in yesterday’s Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m), with favourite Fierce Flight getting in the deciding stride to win the feature event.
The Mark Walker-trained four-year-old brought excellent form to the contest, having won two of his last five starts, and came into the race off the back of a runner-up finish behind Ess Vee Are in the St Leger (2600m).
Jockey Michael McNab settled Fierce Flight in a comfortable position in midfield before tracking the well fancied Pinion into the race at the 600m.
Colorado Star hit the front at the 250m, with Pinion and Fierce Flight chasing hard, before McNab lifted his mount in the final few strides to down Pinion by a nose with a head back to Colorado Star third.
Te Akau Racing manager Reece Trumper was quick to praise the development of Fierce Flight who won his first race in February last year and has collected his first black-type victory at his 16th start.