Consistent campaigner Paisley Park rewarded trainer Graham Richardson’s decision to head north to Ruakākā with victory in the $35,000 feature Sprint yesterday.
Jockey Warren Kennedy settled the 8-year-old at the tail of the seven-horse field before finding a gap between runners with 300m to go, and Paisley Park rallied late to run down former Hong Kong galloper Not Ideal to win by a head.
“I was expecting a good run, that’s why we brought him up here for the better track,” said Richardson, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall.
“The idea was to give him a run at Pukekohe [last start on a heavy10 track], knowing the track would be too wet, but he went really well there [running third].
“It’s a big thrill, I am just really happy. It was a good ride and Warren didn’t panic.”