Racing: Home-town glory as Coulee beats stablemate

Photo / 123rf

The Anderton clan celebrated a near perfect result in their home-town feature yesterday.

Family patriarch Brian and his son Shane saddled the quinella in the group 3 White Robe Lodge Handicap at Wingatui where Coulee downed Tommy Tucker.

Brian and his wife Lorraine bred and co-own both horses and they are by their resident stallion Gallant Guru, who stands at the Mosgiel property the race is named after.

"It's a pretty amazing result," Shane Anderton said. "To sponsor the race and then quinella it is pretty special."

Coulee was given an economical passage behind the leaders on the fence and when a gap presented itself at the top of the straight the 5-year-old pounced.

"The wee mare got a beautiful run whereas Tommy Tucker had to do a bit of work," Anderton said.

"She drew well and made the most if it and was just too good on the day."

Ridden by Courtney Barnes, Coulee skipped away to win by a length and a quarter from Tommy Tucker, who gave the winner 6kg and was forced three and four wide when improving 800m from home.

"I knew I had to wait for the gap and she flew through it," Barnes said. "I'm thankful to the Anderton family."

La Nouvelle Vague, perfectly ridden to instructions by central districts apprentice Leah Hemi, won the listed Dunedin Gold Cup after making the pace.

- NZ Racing Desk