Racing: Sprinter too good

Hamilton Road overpowered a quality open handicap field to score a narrow but impressive victory in the $50,000 Opunake Cup at Hawera yesterday.

The 4-year-old won by a long neck over the favourite, Don't Ya Lovett, with a further half length back to Baltaine (third).

Hamilton Road is a winter specialist, having scored five wins from six starts on heavy tracks.

Go Thenaki and Zvezda set some torrid early lead sectional times, playing into the hands of runners that sat off the speed war.

Winning jockey Claire Anderson saved ground in the home stretch improving along the inner, and this proved vital when Don't Ya Lovett and Baltaine closed rapidly on Hamilton Road.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY