KEY POINTS:
Phil Stevens had an extra spring in his step walking around Awapuni racecourse after Kristov's determined front-running victory yesterday.
Stevens is the part-owner and trainer of the tough 7-year-old who bounced back to winning form impressively when taking out the $30,000 Courtesy Ford Redcraze Bowl in the hands of Opie Bosson.
Kristov has been disappointing in his last two starts but Stevens never lost faith in his equine mate.
"We didn't have the best of starts to his campaign as Kristov broke his jaw back in July and that put us behind the eight-ball getting him ready for Group racing," said Stevens.
"He over-raced in his first two starts and his run was useful enough in the Kelt when finishing five lengths behind Legs.
"I just think that we may have pressure cooked him a little to get him to the track for those early races.
"We backed off him a little and decided to bypass the Captain Cook Stakes at Hastings and aim for this race here at Awapuni.
"He settled a lot kinder in front for Opie which was the big plus coming out of the race and he kicked on very well in the home straight when Mikki Street came at him late."
Kristov is the type of racehorse every owner wants, wonderfully consistent and a genuine competitor. The 7-year-old has scored 15 wins and 24 placings from 48 starts.
Stevens will race Kristov next in the weight-for-age Tauranga Classic at Rotorua on Saturday week.
Punters who followed the form of the beaten runners in last month's Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings would have made plenty of money.
Earlier in the day Shamrock Star, well-beaten by 22 lengths by Legs in the Kelt, returned to winning form with a stylish performance in the $70,000 Feilding Gold Cup.
Jockey Bruce Herd punched the 6-year-old entire quickly forward around the field to lead and maintained solid pressure throughout.
Shamrock Star kicked clear at the top of the home straight and won by three-quarters of a length over Danamator. A further long neck away in third position was King Kalani.
Shamrock Star will be worth following during the summer racing carnival in upcoming events like the Counties, Avondale and Waikato Cups.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
