Racing: Treble of trifectas as Andertons dominate Cup

Trainers Hec and Steve Anderton have saddled the trifecta in the $30,000 Waikouaiti Cup, the third time they have achieved such a feat in the past year.

The Wingatui trainers were the star of Saturday's meeting after Heureka won the feature by half a length from O'Ella with a neck to Lydgina. The same three horses, but in the order of Heureka, Lydgina and O'Ella gave them a trifecta at Wingatui last February while Personal Column, Lydgina and O'Ella gave them the first three at Wingatui on December 17.

Heureka was the only mount on Saturday for Shane McCann, who won the Waikouaiti Cup last year on Our Shiraz.

McCann did not plan to attend the meeting. He was called up after Jamie Bullard opted to ride Live The Reality in the Waikouaiti Cup. Bullard was subsequently fined $100 by the judicial control authority when he admitted to taking two engagements for the race.

Judy Lawson was fined the same amount for taking the rides on Lydgina and Imhappyaboutthat. Aaron Taylor ended up riding Lydgina.

Heureka, the winner of six races for Central Otago owner Bob Elliot of Ranfurly, is now exempt from the ballot for the $250,000 Wellington Cup (3200m) on January 29 by virtue of her Waikouaiti Cup (2000m). Also part of the prize is that her final acceptance fee will be paid by the Wellington Racing Club.

Heureka is by Yamanin Vital, the sire of Cluden Creek, winner of last year's Wellington Cup. She is out of a mare by Nassipour, the sire of Let's Elope, winner of the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Heureka raced handy on the outer as Live By The Sword made the pace. O'Ella came from mid-field to lead inside the 200m and Heureka outfinished her by half a length. Lydgina came along the inner from last at the 450m for third, a neck back.

Christchurch trainer Michael Pitman said there was special satisfaction in the win of Coup Ray in the $10,000 Pyne Gould Guinness Handicap (1250m) on Saturday.

"Ray (Coupland, the owner) wanted to retire the horse after he finished second last in the Timaru Cup on Tuesday," Pitman said.

"I told him to have faith in me. The horse was badly checked in the run home at Timaru and I was keen to have one of my (apprentice) girls ride him."

Pitman has the apprentices Laura Parker, Tracey Newton and Ashlee Mundy. He has often had winning results by putting up apprentices on out of form horses. Parker did the honours and she also won on Global Sovereign for the stable which had five wins on the day.

Coup Ray, six-year-old, had not been successful for two years since he won the 2002 Concorde Handicap at Avondale as a four-year-old. The previous season Coup Ray won the Wellington Stakes for three-year-olds and a prelude of the Mercedes series at two.

Newton won on the Pitman-trained pair Pasco and Ultramarine. Newton also won on Fortune Bay. Bullard rode the other Pitman winner, Rapid Dancer.

Pitman started 16 horses on Saturday and won the first three races with Global Sovereign, Pasco and Rapid Dancer. He will now turn his attention to the Riverton meeting on Tuesday.

Pitman said he was not disappointed when Coup Bloomsbury was beaten on Saturday as he remains in contention for a $35,000 bonus at Omakau next Thursday. The stable also as Coup Triumphal, Coup Pie and Coup Nelson chasing the bonus which is attached to a 1400m race.

- NZPA