Racing: Mike Dillon's weekend reflections

Stewards opened and adjourned an inquiry into Central Districts jockey Hayden Tinsley's ride on shock punt horse Red Cougar at Trentham on Saturday.

The shock came with the defeat of Red Cougar, a debut filly from Mike Breslin's stable who the TAB bookmakers say attracted the biggest debut punt since fixed odds betting began.

To the horror of the large group of punters who plonked a fortune on the filly to take her down to $1.50 at start time, Red Cougar was swamped in the last stride by Ngario and 4kg-claiming apprentice Lisa Whelan.

Tinsley appeared to ride Red Cougar confidently when he took her to the front in the home straight.

Even as Ngario started to edge closer, Tinsley at no stage used his whip and appeared content to hold the filly together in the testing ground.

Before the inquiry adjourned, Tinsley gave evidence that he was riding to instructions.

To be fair to him, Tinsley rode Barinka the same way to win the $200,000 Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha the previous week, winning very narrowly, but choosing not to use his whip.

Tinsley landed the ride on Red Cougar just one hour before start time, having been originally engaged for another debut runner, My Command, who was scratched.

Jonathan Riddell was booked for Red Cougar, but called in sick on Saturday morning.

Tinsley rode the filly 1kg over the 55kg book weight, which was almost certainly significant given the closeness of the finish and particularly with the winner's apprentice claim.

There was a 3.5kg differential between first and second which, on Saturday's testing track, probably came out at closer to 5.5kg.

"We had to adjourn the inquiry because we had a very busy day on Saturday with insufficient jockeys at Trentham with meetings at Ellerslie and Riccarton the same day," said chief steward on the day Ross Neal.

"We'll look at vision of the race in the next few days and decide how we'll move on it."

Lisa Whelan looks a rider of some promise. The winner of only four or five races is on loan to Kevin Myers from Sally and Ben Gordon from Invercargill.

Most 4kg claimers should be discouraged from using the whip until they have experience.

The 4kg is the big advantage when used alone - most green apprentices unbalance horses when trying to use their whips.

But Whelan's whip action is useful given her relative inexperience.

She gets low in the saddle and seems to retain balance.

The Debbie and Graeme Rogerson stable had a tough time with Dating on the shockingly wet track at Randwick, but got their compensation when Sweet Suitor and Dowager Queen raced away for remarkably easy wins at Ellerslie.

Sweet Suitor was stunning.

He looked to be doing three-quarter pace halfway down the straight and was still working away from the others.

"I told James [McDonald] to hold him up until late," said Graeme Rogerson.

"I thought at the 300m when he started to get clear, if he's still holding him up he's going pretty well."

Dowager Queen was much too good for the Champagne Stakes field. Vittoria and Richard fought pretty hard at the end of a tough 1600m for juveniles, but the winner was the only one in the race from the 220m.

BACK THESE

Magic In Me: At least for the first half of the programme Ellerslie suited horses in front and Magic In Me had a tough job grabbing the lead late and only just missed. She won't be a maiden long.

New Moon: Came from last when that was difficult on Saturday. Missed catching the winner, but would have won in one more stride.

Quickasucan: Loved the Ellerslie mud and showed plenty of grit in an extremely tough finish. Can continue that form when the rain is around.

Cowboy: Made an impression winning on debut at Trentham on Saturday. Looks the type to keep improving.