Racing: Rejected filly being set for AJC Oaks

Get on the front foot when you strike adversity.

That's the advice of trainer Mark Walker off the back of That's Tops' stylish first-up victory at Matamata.

Senior owner David Ellis had That's Tops sold to England for $800,000 after the filly had finished fifth in the Derby at Ellerslie at her previous start to Saturday.

"The sale fell through when the x-rays showed up a mark on her hock," said Ellis.

"Mark said 'let's turn this disadvantage into an advantage and win the AJC Oaks'."

That's Tops had to be good to win this race. She settled in the last few, as you would expect over 1400m, and was turned sideways when making her run on the home turn.

She gathered her momentum again and powered to the line under Noel Harris. In typical Harris fashion, the filly looked to have a fraction in reserve when Nyneleven made a dash at her late.

"She'll race in the Championship Stakes at Ellerslie next, followed by the Arrowfield Stakes then the Oaks," said Walker.

"We'll see how good I am."

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Trainer Lance Noble was happy to admit he had some of the $27.35 Brave Mariner paid when he upset a smart field of 3-year-olds.

"Why wouldn't I? Baja finished second to him last start and won the first race today and during the week he galloped with That's Tops and she won the second today. The form looked good."

Brave Mariner did well. He drew wide, sat outside the leader and had to fight to sustain a narrow lead in the home straight.

"He's a smart little horse. He's been on the market, but no one has snapped him up."

Betting said it was a race between smart fillies Spin'N Grin and Sista. Spin'N Grin was stopped for a run between the leaders in the run home and finished fourth and Sista settled back and faded.

Rider Thomas Russell said little panned well for Sista. "I know her best form has been on easier tracks, but I wouldn't be using that as an excuse just yet. She settled back and they didn't go that fast, which made it difficult for her to make ground. She was a little disappointing, but I wouldn't be writing her off."

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Phillip Stevens hasn't lost focus on the Easter Handicap with Kristov.

"They said I should have had a crack at the Thorndon Mile, but I decided a while back the Easter was the master plan."

Kristov has possibly the highest cruising speed in racing and he used it well to destroy Saturday's opposition before the home turn.

"Remarkably though, I could have trailed on him," said rider Hayden Tinsley.

"Allan [Peard on Silveraad] had threequarters of a length on us out of the gates and Kristov was so relaxed under me I considered trailing, but one started to improve so I let him go."

Old Regal Krona looked like he had a good race left in him when he came from equal last to finish strongly, a head-bob from third.

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Rejuvenated Rockabubble earned a start in the $100,000 Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha with her third straight victory on Saturday.

Punters who took the $1.90 odds were desperate when Rockabubble looked to be hopelessly placed, but rider Reese Jones said they needn't have worried.

"I decided to ride her cold because of the relatively small field. She cruised up in the straight then pricked her ears and relaxed once she got to the front."

Trainer Tony Cole believes the quieter farm environment is one of the reasons Rockabubble has turned her form around since joining him. "The other is she's a big mare and has only now fully developed."

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It was difficult getting most of the 50 owners of Puccini's Opera into the Winners' Circle hospitality bar. The team, including Silver Ferns goal shoot Irene van Dyk, made a noise and good on them.

Syndication to that level is the answer for horse racing. Not only is it inexpensive, but a party with 20, 30 or 50 revellers is better than trying to get a knees-up going with two or three. It also adds a wider dimension to the race crowd.

Saturday's meeting drew one of the largest crowds to Matamata in years and betting went through the roof.

The syndicate are in for a lot more fun, judging by the way the Colleen and Chris Wood-trained Puccini's Opera has won her last two.

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Noel Harris remains adamant that the concreted-in running rail uprights at Wairoa need replacing with totally collapsible uprights.

Harris is unrepentant despite a stipendiary stewards inquiry which shows that Harris' son, Troy, did not strike the lump of concrete driven from the ground when his mount collapsed with a heart attack at Wairoa last Sunday.

Close-up videos have shown that Troy Harris badly broke both legs by striking the running rail upright. His mount did not touch the rail, the concrete was driven from the track by Harris' velocity.

"That's okay, but if they hadn't been concreted in, the object Troy hit would not have created such an impact."

Chief stipendiary steward Noel McCutcheon agrees with Harris and other jockeys that the problem at the one-day-a-year racecourse must be rectified.