KEY POINTS:
Local trainer Tim Symes must have being laughing during the early stages of the premier race meeting at Hastings yesterday.
The Symes-trained The Veep has five wins and a minor placing from seven starts on heavy tracks. As the heavy showers hit, so did the smart punting money leading into the $130,000 Hawke's Bay Gold Cup. The 5-year-old was heavily supported heading into the 2200m feature and produced a determined winning performance.
The Veep raced handy against the rail and responded to an aggressive ride by jockey Kelly Myers to win by a neck over Shining Light. A further 1 1/2 lengths away third was The Piper.
The Veep had indicated a return to winning form was not far away with a pleasing last-start second at Hastings and the downpour merely strengthened his win prospects.
VOSNE ROMANEE came back from a three-month break to post a stylish victory in the $40,000 Hastings RSA Gold Cup.
Leading jockey Michael Walker kept Vosne Romanee at the back of the field before unleashing a blistering sprint down the outer.
Vosne Romanee scored by a length over Bonns Girl with a further half-length back to Soelin.
Last start Vosne Romanee finished a creditable seventh in the Thorndon Mile behind Alamosa.
NOEL HARRIS showed his customary patience guiding the consistent Princess Annaliese to a narrow victory in the $50,000 Te Runga Stud Gold Cup.
Harris stormed home to win by a half-head over Royal Jazz and third was Mynewbestfriend.
Princess Annaliese was a creditable fourth in her last start, the Group One New Zealand Oaks at Trentham, and was primed for a bold 1600m by trainer Lisa Latta.
GRANT SEARLE has had an amazing list of 2-year-old stars in his stable, including the freakish juvenile Our Maizcay.
Yesterday Searle produced Beada Believe It who overpowered a strong field of 2-year-olds to win the $20,000 LI Redshaw Gold Cup.
Beada Believe It reeled in the leaders and score by 1 3/4 lengths over Slipperywhenwet with a further 2 3/4 lengths back to St Culpe.
