Racing: Group goals for in-form pair

Photo / iStock

Southern Icon and Gwynethanne will chase down Group features at opposite ends of the country next month following their respective Te Rapa successes.

The former coasted away with yesterday's Group 1 Turf Bar 1200 to confirm a tilt at the Group 2 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate on August 13.

"We have to try and win that to qualify for a start in the Makfi," part-owner and trainer Alan Tait said.

Southern Icon won three consecutive races at the end of his last campaign and he resumed in style with a bold performance that left no excuses for his rivals.

The four-year-old was behind the leader Aaja Nachle before he strode to the front a long way from home and cruised home by four lengths.

"He took a sit early, but he is the sort of horse you can't fight so I let him roll along and he did it easily," rider Mark Hills said.

Meanwhile, Gwynethanne has put herself into contention for the Group 3 Star Winter Cup at Riccarton on August 6 following her clear-cut win in the BNZ Partners Open 1600.

"She will probably go to stud next season and I said if she won this race then we would pay a late entry to the cup " that could be her swansong," trainer Karen Zimmerman said.

The winner of seven races and runner-up in the 2014 group two Travis Stakes, Gwynethanne sat at the tail of the field under rider Kelly McCullough who said she got the perfect drag into the race.

- NZ Racing Desk.