Racing: Local knowledge wins

Leith Innes. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Leith Innes has ridden a stack of winners at Matamata but none was more satisfying than the staggering performance produced by Banchee to win the (Group Two) $100,000 Matamata Breeders Stakes yesterday.

Innes had to use every ounce of his local knowledge and judgment to get the powerful sit-sprint filly home from a wide barrier 14 draw.

Matamata can be one of the most difficult tracks to make ground on the leaders - particularly in a six furlong sprint - because of that sharp left-hand turn before the home straight.

Innes knew that if he got the filly close to the leaders without burning too much petrol before the home turn he had the athlete to deliver a killer blow.

Midway down the home straight it appeared as if the Australian-trained Karaka Million winner Sister Havana had the race under control but she had no answer to Banchee's finishing sprint.

Banchee unleashed a blistering sprint to grab the victory by a head over Sister Havana with a further nose back to Miss Thorn.

The victory was another outstanding result for local trainer John Sargent who is churning out winners regularly.

The owners of Banchee were unlucky not to win the Karaka Million at Ellerslie when a wide draw denied the filly victory. Her performance to finish third confirmed Sargent has another age group superstar.

Sargent also saddled up Shi Kin Fly and St Germaine to win and take bragging rights on a day when local trainers dominated the race card.

Banchee has been a model of consistency, scoring two wins and two minor placings from four starts.

While all honours were with the winner, the performance of the fifth-placed King's Rose was full of merit as the striking daughter of Redoute's Choice got well back during the early part of the race and stormed home late.

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Mike and Paul Moroney were back doing what fans know the training brothers are capable of - winning on a feature race day.

The Moroney brothers have copped plenty of negative publicity recently but answered their critics in the best possible way, winning two races.

There was much to admire in the gritty winning performance by Nacho Man in the $45,000 (Listed) Waikato Stud Slipper.

The 2-year-old gelding scored by 2 lengths over Sirrio with a further head back to Mr Spock (third).

The Moroney-trained Prix Du Sang completed a pleasing day for Ballymore Stables.

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A return to training at Matamata has tested the skills and patience of Stephen Autridge.

Autridge appears to have a promising 3-year-old in Ishka Bahe who handled the step up in racing distance to 2000m.