Racing: Time Keeper takes charge

Mark Sweeney and Time Keeper controlled the running of the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie yesterday. Photo / NZPA

Te Aroha trainers Graeme Nicholson and Paul Allbon gave punters a timely reminder of their skills when producing Time Keeper to win the $200,000 (Group One) Easter Handicap at Ellerslie yesterday.

The pair have been criticised over the past two seasons regarding the vigorous schedule for stable star Sir Slick in Australia and New Zealand.

No one could argue with their clever horsemanship in dropping last-start winner Time Keeper back in distance from 2000m to 1600m.

The colt son of Stravinsky showed no mercy powering straight to the front with only 51kg on his back. Jockey Mark Sweeney burnt plenty of petrol crossing the opposition quickly to take control.

Time Keeper kicked on the field on the home turn, scoring by 1 lengths over November Rain. The same margin away third was the gallant topweight Sir Slick (59kg).

"We put new shoes on the horse on Monday and there were problems with that off-fore leg on Thursday as he was quite tender on it," said part-owner and senior co-trainer Nicholson.

"We pulled a nail out of the foot on Thursday and we were up until 9.30pm on Friday night treating the foot. We put him on the water treadmill for 20 minutes on Friday night and he's got over it as he raced very generously today."

Time Keeper chose an opportune time to break his losing streak at Ellerslie - winless in nine previous starts - posting an impressive Group One performance.

November Rain made up a huge amount of ground wide out in the home stretch to finish second but was never a realistic chance of catching the winner who was allowed his own rules in front.

Obsession was another to catch the eye making up a stack of ground to finish sixth.

LION TAMER returned to winning form in stunning fashion producing a powerful home stretch sprint to win the $45,000 (Listed) Champagne Stakes.

The well-built colt son of Storming Home was disappointing last start when ninth in the (Group One) Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes.

The 2-year-old clearly appreciated the jump up in distance to 1600m settling well off the speed and unwinding a slick and sustained sprint down the outer in the hands of Michael Coleman to win by three-quarters of a length over Hoofit.

A further long head away in third position was Red General.

Cambridge trainers Murray and Bjorn Baker are proven conditioners of age group talent and appear to have a Guineas prospect for next season.

ANDREW SCOTT produced Pennacchio - fresh-up from a five month break from racing - to post an effortless victory in the Open Sprint.

The 5-year-old daughter of Align unleashed a blistering home stretch sprint to score by a half-length over Irish Colleen with the same margin back to Martini Red (third).

Scott obviously knows how to produce this race mare in faultless physical condition. With six wins and three minor placings from 13 starts, Pennacchio has an impressive strike rate from a restricted programme. Her strike rate at Ellerslie is even better, scoring three wins from four starts.