Racing: Rusof claims first black type

Shafiq Rusof steers Our Abbadean to Travis Stakes win. Photo / Trish Dunell

Te Akau rider Shafiq Rusof celebrated his first New Zealand black type victory yesterday with a polished display aboard stable runner Our Abbadean.

The 31-year-old brought the five-year-old with a well-timed finish at Te Rapa to win the group two Travis Stakes from China Star and Nicoletta.

Rusof returned to Matamata this season after riding for Mark Walker for seven years in Singapore where he was twice crowned champion apprentice.

"It's a big thrill and Te Akau have supported me from day one," he said.

Our Abbadean is trained by Jamie Richards and Stephen Autridge and the former was lavish in his praise for Rusof.

"He's a very under-rated rider. He came from Singapore and when you are competitive against the likes of Michael Rodd, Joao Moreira and Vlad Duric it speaks volumes," he said.

Raced by breeders Wentwood Grange, Our Abbadean settled midfield on a good pace and finished resolutely to add the Travis to her group two Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) title.

In between times, the daughter of Lookin At Lucky ran second in the Listed Hawke's Bay Cup (2200m).

Meanwhile, Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman are likely to be looking at suitable offshore targets for the quality mare Love Affair.

The Cambridge trainers produced the Garry Chittick-bred and owned four-year-old for an impressive first-up victory at the expense of the Queensland-bound Volpe Veloce in yesterday's Aon Insurance Brokers Premier (1200m) at Te Rapa.

"I'll have to speak to Garry, he might be looking at Brisbane," Baker said. "If not Brisbane, then she'll be a good mare for Melbourne in the spring."

Love Affair settled one off the fence near the pace and when rider Matthew Cameron asked her to sprint 300m from home she quickly cut loose to put the issue beyond doubt.

Volpe Veloce turned in a solid effort to open her campaign and is set to head to Queensland in May.

- NZ Racing Desk