Racing: Tui Song eases the pain

Auckland Cup Day at Ellerslie did not start well for Tuhikaramea-based trainers Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge.

Stable runner Crescent, was pulled up during the opening event after cutting the off-front leg and had to be put down.

The seven-year-old, Zabeel-sired gelding was owned by Rogerson and had won seven races and $123,000 in stake earnings.

The stable got back into winning form when impressive four-year-old mare Tui Song completed a hat-trick of wins when coasting to a five-length victory in the hands of Leith Innes.

Tui Song enjoyed a sit close to the pace throughout the 1400 metre event before shifting up a gear and sprinting effortlessly down the outer of the track to win over The Island Storm and Alberton Rose (third).

Tui Song's immediate racing future will be in Australia racing from either the Melbourne or Sydney stable of Rogerson.

"I'd like to take Tui Song to Trentham for the Wellington Cup Carnival for either the Anniversary Handicap or the Thorndon Mile," said Autridge. "Her long-term racing future will be in Australia as Graeme has had a talk to the owners and it makes sense that she heads to Australia.

"She's an exciting race mare and has come a long way in a short period of time and I think she's right up to winning a Group One race.

"She's won her last three starts in a row and done it very easily. We've only given her nine race starts and she's got better with each outing."

Tui Song has scored five wins and three minor placings from the nine starts.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY