Racing: Heureka adds Dunedin to list

Owner Bob Elliot experienced triumph at Wingatui on Saturday on the track he suffered tragedy 20 years earlier.

Elliot lost his first winner Royal Lodge, a winner of eight, after it fractured a cannon bone at Wingatui in May 1985.

On Saturday he received belated compensation when Heureka won the $30,000 listed Dunedin Gold Cup in his red and royal blue colours.

Heureka has won now seven races, including the listed Waikouaiti Cup last month, and lifted her earnings to $64,562.

Heureka was positioned close to the pace by Kylie Williams and ran on stoutly to win by a length.

She will contest the Invercargill Cup next Saturday, depending on how she comes through the Dunedin Cup.

Terry Moseley has been engaged to ride Heureka as Williams is committed to Personal D'Or.

It was the second win in the Dunedin Cup for trainer Hec Anderton, who prepares Heureka with his son Steve. Anderton senior was the trainer and part-owner of the 1999 winner De Montfort.

The race was not all good news for the Anderton stable. Lydgina, who finished eighth, was galloped on during the race, and O'Ella, who ran sixth, has a damaged shoulder.

Trainer Joanne Hillis produced Jack Be Nimble to win the group three $35,000 White Robe Lodge Handicap (1600m) in his first race for six months. Hillis shares ownership of Jack Be Nimble with her partner Barry Cottle.

Jack Be Nimble was giving the leaders a start of six lengths at the 400m but powered home to win by a neck from Regal Night, who came from last of 14 at the 600m.

Jack Be Nimble will next revert to 1400m in the Hazlett Stakes at Cromwell on March 5.

The win capped a big day for jockey Jamie Bullard, who also won the listed Champagne Stakes on Bearable, a $10,000 special maiden race on Jetmaster and another race on Ha Ha McGrath.

Bearable's trainer Paul Harris said he had high hope for his juvenile after he won the Champagne Stakes.

Bearable, who is nominated for the group one Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni next month, is a half-brother to the useful galloper Harvard Honor from the first of three New Zealand crops of the former Breeders' Cup Turf winner Chief Bearheart.

- NZPA