Racing: Waiuku mare salutes as curtain falls

Avondale Racecourse held her final race yesterday when the Avondale Jockey Club hosted its last meeting at the track for what appears will be some time.

Waiuku galloper Amirar took the feature $20,000 Rosebank Business Governor General's Cup in the hands of leading apprentice Jason Collett, claiming her third win on end after successes at Ruakaka and Te Rapa over the past month.

The Ekraar 4-year-old mare loomed up and hit the lead 300m out but had to endure a good battle for much of the home stretch with quality galloper Strapped For Cash (Opie Bosson) who never gave in the fight. Just a length separated the pair at the finish line.

An impressive runaway win aboard Elusive City filly Lamington Vegas in the Fruit World Rating 80 took top jockey Opie Bosson to 146 wins for the term and a one-win lead over James McDonald on the national premiership table.

Bosson had consistently churned out the winners during recent weeks, and though he'd questioned whether he would reel in McDonald's stagnant total, he has reached the target well before season's end.

McDonald is on sabbatical in Europe and Asia and seems unlikely to return to New Zealand and attempt a premiership victory, leaving the way open for Bosson to claim a deserved national title.