Racing: Visitors enjoy success

Racing Ellerslie gave $30,000 to the tsunami relief and $270,000 to the Australians.

The greatest racing certainty is that more and more Australian-trained horses will be at major New Zealand carnivals.

The success of Recurring in the Railway and the second of Bondy in the Auckland Cup on Saturday, coupled with Basra's win in the $120,000 Royal Stakes yesterday, will guarantee increased transtasman rivalry at Ellerslie.

And it's not just about money. Even more important for Recurring and Basra, it's about gaining black type wins for fillies and mares at an easier level than they face in Australia.

Basra toppled our best filly Justa Tad in yesterday's group two Royal Stakes after finishing sixth for Gai Waterhouse in the 1600m Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day.

Although that effort was described by some as fair, it showed Basra was going to be suited by her first attempt at 2000m.

Michael Walker put his hand up for the change of riding tactics from dropping out the back last week to sitting just off the speed yesterday.

"I decided she should be ridden forward. I rang Gai in Sydney yesterday, but couldn't get a reply and left a message for her that I would ride her more forward," said Walker.

Justa Tad tried hard in the home straight but never looked likely to pull Basra back.

Not a lot went right for Justa Tad, but either individually or collectively they were not enough to say the champion local filly was unlucky.

"I thought she went a terrific race," said Justa Tad's biggest fan, regular rider Vinny Colgan.

"She got crammed up and went on her nose soon after the start, then in the back straight they eased the pace and she got going a bit too keenly.

"In the straight Spin'N Grin was laying on her for a fair while before she worked into the clear.

"I'm not making excuses for her, but thought it was a nice run. I'm very happy."

So is owner and trainer Rudy Liefting.

"I thought Basra would be tough to beat.

"I said to my wife [Megan] this morning that these Australian horses always seem to go better at their second run here.

"I'm happy though. I saw what I needed to see, and that's the ticket to the Oaks at Trentham."

Colgan also felt it was a top trial for the Oaks.