Racing: Team work helps get youngster into winner's circle

Karyn McQuade was quick to credit "team work" from her support staff for getting first starter Riomoral home for an impressive victory at Te Rapa yesterday.

The Matamata trainer has had her share of problems with the showy 2-year-old who developed a bad habit of attempting to buck off jockeys at barrier jump outs.

That behaviour led McQuade to have Riomoral gelded.

The youngster has since been handled patiently by stable staff and paraded in magnificent order before the running of the opening event.

The son of Captain Rio ploughed through the testing track conditions to register an impressive three-quarter length victory over Imabadboy with a further two lengths back to Shigeru (third).

"He's certainly presented the staff with a few challengers and he was a handful early on as he used to buck and try and through the jockey off him at jump outs," said McQuade. "We think he was pinching himself when galloping and that was making him an unhappy horse so gelding him has certainly helped.

"My husband spent a lot of time handling him and Cameron Lammas was also a massive help helping educate the horse.

"You could see today that he was a bit unsure about things in the birdcage but once he got around to the barrier he knew what was happening.

"He's heading to the spelling paddock for a brief break and we'll look at some of the Guineas races early in the spring."

McQuade has a small boutique stable of 20 horses in training - a large number of these untried stock - and is predicting a stellar 3-year-old season from Riomoral.

Stable jockey Kate Hercock had the honours yesterday on board the gelding that scored at juicy 21-1 odds despite an impressive recent trail victory at Cambridge.

Biggles made a pleasing jump up in distance and class to win the $17,500 Open Handicap.

The 5-year-old was jumping up in distance from 1600m to 2000m yesterday and the two race winner took full advantage of the testing track conditions and pull in the weights to post a narrow nose victory over Heart Haze.

A further half-length away in third position was Ima Lady. The 5-year-old has been a slow maturing racehorse for New Plymouth trainer Ian Adams - scoring three wins and five minor placings - from 31 starts.