Racing: Local knowledge to the fore at Awapuni

Local breeders, owners and trainers combined to make almost a clean sweep of the eight races at the Feilding Jockey Club's meeting at Awapuni yesterday.

Only High Season, from the Taranaki stable of John Wheeler, prevented the Manawatu-Horowhenua region from winning all races.

In the day's main event, the Feilding Hotel Anzac 1600, veteran galloper Lordship came back to his best with a vengeance for a former committee man of the club, Michael Kelly, whose daughter Ilone trains the 8-year-old at Levin.

Michael Kelly, who farms close to Feilding, is a brother of famed race caller Peter Kelly. Another brother, Bernard, was head of the New Zealand Racing Conference in the mid-1990s.

Michael Kelly, a committee man of the Feilding club for 15 years, said after Lordship's success yesterday that he had been trying to win a race at his local meeting "for more years than I care to remember".

"We bought the horse at one of Peter McKenzie's Sunday sales as a yearling in 1998 and he has rewarded us with a win in each of his six seasons of racing."

At good odds of nearly 16-1, Lordship came from mid-field to outgun the consistent Native Song in the last couple of strides.

The $21,875 winner's purse took Lordship's earning to almost $160,000.

Lordship is by His Royal Highness, a stallion who has done McKenzie great service over the years with a succession of good horses, including the recent up-and-comer King Of Ashford.

The well-backed Native Song spoiled her chances by shifting in abruptly about 300m from the finish. As it was, she was edged out only in the last stride by Lordship.

Favourite Jurys Out made a game bid to lead all the way in his first attempt in open-class company.

He fought bravely and as the track had turned to soft by that stage, his effort for third was a gallant one.

The rain came at the opportune time for Danamator in the progressive grade 1400m.

It was the Danasinga gelding's fourth win on the track and his fifth overall and continues the fine run of form being experienced by the district's leading rider, Hayden Tinsley.

He had three wins yesterday and his tally for the season now stands at 105.

Danamator is trained by part-owner Michael Breslin.

- NZPA