KEY POINTS:
South Island raider Delbrae overcame a tough run and the massive topweight of 58kg to score a determined victory in the $80,000 Marton Cup at Awapuni.
Delbrae had a stack of obstacles yesterday as he was forced to carry the topweight and start from the outside alley in the 2200m listed event.
The 7-year-old raced wide throughout the running and was a sitting duck for any horse good enough to catch him in the home stretch but fought like a tiger outstaying Gallions Reach to win by a nose.
A further two lengths away third was Mickey. The favourite Resolution settled at the back of the field and made up a lot of ground in the home stretch to finish sixth, four lengths from the winner.
The performance of Resolution was a good pointer to his win prospects in the upcoming Wellington Cup particularly the jump in distance to 3200m and the long Trentham home straight.
Delbrae had useful form leading into the Marton Cup as he had been chasing Tipulater around in South Island feature events. It took the might of Sir Slick to deny Tipulater further winning form yesterday.
BRUCE HERD produced a brilliant front-running tactical ride aboard Tipulater that would usually be rewarded with victory - but someone forgot to tell iron horse Sir Slick - who refused to accept defeat.
Herd punched the South Island visitor onto the speed then appeared to put a winning break on the field at the top of the home stretch.
Tipulater had one rival in hot pursuit, the topweight Sir Slick, who carried 58.5kg thanks to the 4kg apprentice claim of Roxanne Rattley.
Sir Slick ruthlessly reeled in Tipulater over the closing 100m of the $50,000 Waikato Stud Handicap with the youthful Rattley a mere passenger on the equine monster who ground out a nose victory.
A further 2 1/2 lengths away third was Bulginbaah with the 1400m cut out in a slick 1:21.59.
Earlier this season Sir Slick appeared to hit a flat spot with his form but over the last month the Te Aroha-trained, front-running warrior has been brutal, running the sprint finishing ability out of the opposition.
The 6-year-old settled in fifth position during the early stages of yesterday's event before powering forward three wide to begin the chase after tearaway leader Tipulater.
It will take an exceptional racehorse to defeat Sir Slick in the upcoming Thorndon Mile at Trentham despite the hefty weight he will be forced to carry in the Group One event.
RAID QUALIFIED for the upcoming Karaka Million Juvenile following a determined winning performance at Ellerslie yesterday.
The 2-year-old daughter of Pins sprinted powerfully along the rail in the home stretch to score a neck victory over Straitothepoolroom with a further three-quarters of a length back to Noble Manor (third).
Captain Fantastic made ground solidly from the middle of the field to finish fourth.
Veteran jockey Noel Harris did an exceptional job staying on board the fifth placed Fully Fledged who nearly ran over the outside fence in the home stretch after racing erratically and sprinting at full speed sideways towards the outside.
