Racing: Raider stylish in victory

Samantha Collett and Spare A Fortune win the feature Metric Mile at Awapuni yesterday. Photo / NZPA

Matamata trainer Gary Hennessy had only one runner at Awapuni yesterday but Spare A Fortune scored a stylish course debut in the $70,000 Metric Mile.

Hennessy has compiled an impressive strike rate and is certainly not afraid to travel to race a horse. The long drive back to Matamata last night was made easier with an impressive winning performance posted by Spare A Fortune.

The 5-year-old clicks with jockey Samantha Collett who has ridden the son of Spartacus in four of his six wins.

Spare A Fortune unleashed a powerful finishing burst in the home stretch to score by 1 lengths over Superturf with a further length back to Herman Munster (third).

All credit was with the winner who lumped 57kg to victory, five kilos more than the second placed runner. This followed a gritty victory at Hastings where Spare A Fortune carried 59kg.

PETER McKAY has certainly hit the track running this season with victories on consecutive Saturdays with 2-year-olds.

Alvesta was a spectacular debut winner at Wanganui last Saturday for the McKay stable and was lucky to escape injury when jumping the outside rail after the finishing post.

Yesterday it was the turn of Antonio Lombardo, backing up after finishing second behind Alvesta last week, who strolled to an easy victory in the 2-Year-Old event at Ruakaka.

The colt son of Pins scored by three lengths over French Connection with a further 1 lengths back to Estrato (third).

This is a pleasing start for McKay who has been a prolific buyer at New Zealand and Australian yearling sales.

McKay is certainly one trainer worth following as he has a knack of producing speedy, well-educated 2 and 3-year-old racing stock, season after season.

TAUPIRI TRAINER John Morell had the misfortune last season to lose the up and coming Morelle to injury.

Morelle's younger brother Follow The Birds showed he will be a 3-year-old worth following this season when over powering a quality field of age group rivals to win impressively in the hands of Michael Coleman.

The gelded son of O'Reilly certainly won with plenty in hand - indicated by having his ears pricked at the finishing line - when defeating Undisclosed and Upsala.

This followed an eye-catching debut second placing on the track late last season as a 2-year-old. Follow The Birds certainly has an athletic build and speed when asked to lengthen stride.

BRETT McDONALD produced She Rules well forward in racing condition to win the $20,000 Open Handicap.

Michael Coleman gave the class daughter of Commands a dream sit in second position throughout the running, tracking the pace-setting Sanjeev and defeating this runner by a short neck.

In an on-the-pace dominated event, Katie Lee made ground solidly late to finish a further 2 lengths away third.

This was an impressive performance fresh-up from She Rules who last raced on June 12 and stripped down in fine physical condition.