Racing: Rider makes most of his chance

Leading jockey Michael Coleman has an eye for a future riding opportunity as punters found out at Ellerslie yesterday.

Coleman rode Alonzo to finish fourth in the Group One Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie on January 1 and while he was impressed with that performance, another horse caught his eye - the third-placed runner Rags To Riches.

Coleman has been waiting a long time to secure the ride on the 5-year-old and was pleased to receive a phone call last Sunday from trainer Ralph Manning confirming he had the ride in the Easter Handicap.

Rags To Riches was given a dream run by Coleman outside Korau Road in the Group One event and kicked clear of the pack midway down the home stretch to defeat that runner by a length.

A further half-length away in third position was La Sizeranne.

"We had a nice run outside the leader and he relaxed easily and we really put the speed on over the closing 600m," said Coleman.

"He's a pretty genuine type of racehorse who can run in any type of track conditions and I'm just happy to be back on board.

"This horse caught my eye back in the Rich Hill Mile back in January when he just cut me out of third position when I was riding Alonzo.

"I've won four races on him previously and I'm just happy to be back on him because I was keen to ride him in this race, particularly with only 54kg on his back."

The win was Coleman's fourth in Group One events this season on top of victories with Xcellent (Mudgway Stakes and Kelt Stakes) and Jokers Wild (Sires Produce Stakes).

Rags To Riches has been a consistent performer for Manning, scoring 10 wins and 11 minor placings from 32 starts.

The 5-year-old is raced by Denny and Mark Baker of Hallmark Stud, Te Kauwhata, and Irish property developer Eamonn Cleary.

Rags To Riches will now be spelled and aimed at the rich weight-for-age features at Hastings next season.

* Leanne Bertling was sporting a large smile while punters were stung after the $35,000 Champagne Stakes.

The Bertling-trained, 42-1 shot Post Thyme unleashed a stylish home stretch sprint down the middle of the track to post an effortless victory in the listed event.

While Bertling was basking in winning glory, many punters were stunned by the winner's impressive performance.

Post Thyme recorded an eye-catching performance on debut at Ellerslie when third behind the subsequent Group One placed 2-year-old The One, and had no luck last start when sixth at Avondale.

But punters ignored the daughter of Postponed in pre-race planning and paid the penalty.

In the first leg of Pick6, Post Thyme left no excuses for the opposition, clearing out from the field over the concluding stages to score by three-quarters of a length over Steal The Glory with a further long head away to the favourite, Cadre Noir, (third).

The bold-striding filly stretched out impressively over the closing stages of the 1600m event suggesting she could be a contender for Group One honours next season as a 3-year-old.

"Post Thyme is a lovely and relaxed filly and it was a great ride from Catherine Treymane as she put her to sleep in the field and timed her challenge perfectly," said Bertling. "This filly has a great attitude and I'll now put her out for a six-week spell while the weather is warm and she'll come back into the stable over the winter.

"She gives me the impression that she'll handle the step up to middle distance racing next season and there's a stack of 3-year-old fillies races we'll be looking at with her."

The race was a perfect result for Stoney Bridge-based stallion Postponed and Bertling's major stable client Mike Tololi.

"The win was a great result as I train exclusively for Mike and he's got the dam of Post Thyme [Cardamom] and of course he stands the stallion Postponed at Stoney Bridge."

* Fluffy Duck overcame the dreaded "second-up" theory when scoring a determined front-running victory.

The 5-year-old Tale Of The Cat-sired mare jumped straight to the lead and was well-rated throughout by Lynsey Hoffman fighting on in the home stretch to score by a half-head over the fast-closing Baltaine.

A further three-quarters of a length away in third was I Rock My World.

Fluffy Duck has been a good performer for the Cambridge-based training partnership of Alan Jones and Brett McDonald scoring six wins and four minor placings from 14 starts.

"I'm not sure what plans Alan has for the mare but she doesn't mind the sting out of the track," said McDonald.

"She had a break in January and this run was her second back today in this race and it was a gutsy effort."

Fluffy Duck is an on the pace runner and should not be difficult to place in winter racing.