KEY POINTS:
Tom Hazlett had mixed emotions when it came to discussing the $40,000 Hawkes Bay Steeplechase, the feature event at Hastings yesterday.
The in-form jumps jockey thought he was on the horse to beat when the final field was confirmed for the 4800m feature - then disaster struck.
Trainer Mark Oulaghan informed him on Friday that he was going to scratch The Jolly Dancer from the feature steeplechase after a veterinary examination revealed a minor tendon injury in the near foreleg.
Hazlett did profit from the misfortune suffered by another jumps jockey when Joanne Rathbone fell from Fontera and broke her wrist earlier during the Hawkes Bay Hurdles.
Rathbone could not ride Just A Swagger in the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase and trainer Paul Nelson had no hesitation in engaging Hazlett to ride the 9-year-old.
Just A Swagger was in front throughout the 4800m and ran the finishing ability out of the majority of the opposition, scoring by a half-length over the favorite Waitete Boy.
A further seven lengths away in third position was No Rush'n.
Yesterday's victory followed a battling last-start third placing behind The Jolly Dancer. However the heavier track conditions at Hastings yesterday might have assisted the win prospects of Just A Swagger.
The former dual Grand National Hurdle winner will now head to Trentham for the $60,000 Wellington Steeplechase on July 14.
Another runner heading to Trentham for further winter riches is Diamondsareforever, who unleashed a blistering home-stretch display of sprinting and jumping to win the $30,000 Hawkes Bay Hurdles.
Jockey Shelly Houston had the 6-year-old perfectly positioned handy to the pace throughout and stayed against the rail in the run home while several rivals swept wide in search of better footing.
Diamondsareforever lengthened stride impressively after safely jumping the final fence to score by three-quarters of a length over Gold Heist and Praise The Lord (third).
The jump up in class did not bother Diamondsareforever who posted an impressive last-start victory at Tauranga a week ago.
Cambridge trainers Craig Amrein and Yvette Keoghan have done an outstanding job conditioning the 6-year-old who debuted from their stable in April.
A seven-month break from racing has done nothing to the brilliance of Samurai who overpowered a quality field of sprinters to win the $25,000 Taradale Club Open.
Samurai came into the race without the benefit of a trial outing but paraded in magnificent order and unleashed a blistering sprint down the outer of the track in the home stretch to defeat the favourite Bulginbaah by a neck.
A further 2 1/2 lengths away in third position was the favourite Zamfir. Winning jockey David Walker had the 5-year-old perfectly positioned behind the leaders and hooked the classy equine athlete to the outer to challenge on the home turn and outlasted Bulginbaah in a keen battle.
Punters who follow horses with good course records were duly rewarded yesterday with a tasty $7.10 win dividend. Samurai has fashioned an impressive record at Hastings of four wins and one placing from six starts.
Samurai will be worth following during the upcoming winter and sprint feature events. Woodville-based trainer Neil Conners has been patient with Samurai, which may be rewarded early next season with victory in the Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccartion.
There was a lot to admire in the performance recorded by the topweight Bulginbaah, who lumped 59.5kg on a wet track and was beaten by a horse with 5.5kg less.
