Racing: Remarkable run of Riddell continues

Jonathan Riddell salutes his win aboard Fort Lincoln. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Lisa Latta clearly remembers her thoughts moments before Fort Lincoln mastered Antonio Lombardo in last night's $1 million Karaka Million at Ellerslie.

"I remember saying to myself 'f***, what a great ride', and it was."

But then Latta, in the best form of her career, is used to outstanding rides by born-again Jonathan Riddell who looked lost to flat riding for any number of years.

Latta watched both her runners, Fort Lincoln and Brackenwood throughout the running, the pair having drawn alongside each other in gates No 1 and No 2.

"They were racing alongside each other and I noticed Fort Lincoln started to travel the better of the two."

In a desperate finish, Fort Lincoln under the well-known force of Riddell, out-ground a gallant Antonio Lombardo, with southern filly Planet Rock almost alongside just in front of Super Easy.

The last words Prime Minister John Key told the large, hyped-up crowd at the official presentation was: "bring your chequebooks to Karaka [for the start of the yearling sales] tomorrow." Fort Lincoln's principal owner under the Lincoln Farms banner, supermarket owner John Street, didn't need any encouragement.

In harness and thoroughbred circles John Street is one of the most prolific buyers.

The timing wasn't lost on an excited Lisa Latta. "This couldn't have come at a better time for me with the sales starting."

Latta remembers picking out Fort Lincoln for $110,000 at last year's sales because "I thought he'd run early".

The colt was offered under the banner of Curraghmore Stud, which will be anticipating interest in the full sister, Lot 191, at Karaka today.

"He was bred by Joan Egan and the late Marilyn Kent," said Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham.

Riddell has been a remarkably valuable addition to riding ranks since he started a horror diet and added flat riding to his career as a jumps jockey.

The Palmerston North horseman makes the most of his opportunities and has been doing a marvellous job on classy 3-year-old Jimmy Choux, now equal favourite for the Telecom Derby at Ellerslie.

On a day when it was difficult to make ground from the back, Planet Rock did well to finish a close third from the back of the main bunch at the 600m.

She was relentless in the closing stages and trainers Dawn and Peter Williams will have no problem placing her from this point.

The wide draw cost well-fancied Super Easy dearly.

He was caught three wide outside the leaders and didn't flinch in the tough run to the finish.

Savabill and Queen Boudicca finished next. Melbourne visitor Chateauneuf Dupape wilted after a decent run behind the leaders.