Racing: Impressive winner heading for jumps

Transtasman trainer Graeme Rogerson has a new racing career in mind for impressive Ruakaka winner Recourse.

The 4-year-old Zabeel-sired gelding settled beautifully outside the leader throughout the running of the $12,000 intermediate class event yesterday, striding clear over the closing 100 metres to win by a length over Rapitaine.

A further 1 1/2lengths away in third position was Four Diamonds.

"Graeme has a jumping career in mind for this horse and his next start will be in a hurdle race at Paeroa," said co-trainer Stephen Autridge. "Recourse started his career here in New Zealand and won a 2-year-old race in Melbourne.

"He was originally owned by Lloyd Williams [Melbourne millionaire and prominent owner] but Graeme purchased him off Lloyd with a jumping career in mind.

"This was his fourth run back here in New Zealand and it was a good effort to win today as he drew barrier 17 and had to do some work to get forward at the start.

"That early pace will also help him in his new career as a jumper and I'm sure he's going to do a good job for the stable."

Reese Jones made it a winning hat-trick for the Rogerson-Autridge stable when kicking home Pin Up Boy and Ave Maree.

Pin Up Boy scored a narrow long neck victory over Hi Yo Wassup and Roaring Jake (third).

The 3-year-old Pins-sired gelding came with a sustained sprint in the home stretch to post an impressive fresh-up victory.

Pin Up Boy has been a consistent performer scoring three wins and five minor placings from 11 starts.

The Rogerson-Autridge stable is well clear in the New Zealand Trainers' Premiership on 82 wins with two weeks remaining in the 2004-2005 season.

Michael Walker has had a pretty expensive week after pleading guilty to drink driving and careless driving charges in the Hawera District Court.

On Tuesday Walker was fined $1000 plus costs and analysis fees and disqualified from driving for nine months for the drink driving charge. For careless driving, Walker was fined $400 plus costs.

The 21-year-old put all that behind him when riding a confident and competent race aboard the Donna and Dean Logan-trained Northern Beau to win the $20,000 Whangarei Cup yesterday.

Walker rode Northern Beau a half kilogram overweight at 53kg and the pair waged a titanic battle with the topweight King Keitel (58kg) down the length of the straight to win by a short head.

A further three lengths away in third position was Expectalite.

Walker had Northern Beau nicely positioned close to the leaders throughout before sprinting forward three wide on the home turn to challenge.

Northern Beau was briefly headed by King Keitel in the home stretch but kicked back late under a vigorous ride from Walker to score a determined victory.

The 6-year-old has been a useful performer for the Ruakaka-based trainers, scoring five wins and nine minor placings from 23 starts.

Northern Beau clearly thrives on racing on his home track - his record is four wins and five minor placings from 10 starts.

Punters were right on the mark installing the 6-year-old a hot $3.05 favourite.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY