Racing: Winning can be painful

You never know when you are winning in horse racing - ask Frank Ritchie.

Last week when nominations closed for yesterday's Ellerslie meeting, Platinum Place came into season and the Ritchie stable decided not to nominate the Stravinsky filly when a blood reading looked ordinary. That changed only with some Auckland Racing Club persuasion.

The next day, Thursday, the blood count was better and Ritchie was walking the filly along the road to alleviate a muscle tie-up problem when Sydney journalist Tony Arrold called Ritchie's mobile to do a story on Xcellent, who was attempting to become the first New Zealander since Bonecrusher to win the AJC Derby.

A car went past, Platinum Place flipped herself and injured Ritchie's knee. She flipped a second time and this time got her co-trainer's ankle.

Ritchie has been barely able to walk, but decided to attend yesterday's meeting to see his only runner, Platinum Place. When he opened his roll-up garage door it ran off the rollers and buckled.

He had no one at home to prevent a break-in and had to watch on TV as Platinum Place achieved what every trainer hopes for their owners, scored a $27,500 maiden victory.

Owner Tim De Mattina and Craig Ritchie provided the verbal encouragement as Platinum Place and Allan Peard just got home in a four-way tight finish.

"She goes best a little on the fresh side, so we won't be backing her up," said Ritchie. Peard rode a patient race in the home straight and deserved the win.

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You don't often hear trainer Don Sellwood talking confidently about a major race.

You couldn't wipe the Ford Manawatu Sires Produce smile off Sellwood's face after Pulcinella scored a glamour win in yesterday's $27,500 Crombie Lockwood 2YO at Ellerslie.

"She'll take some beating in the Sires," said a bullish Sellwood after Pucinella and Noel Harris narrowly got the better of the pacemaker Lapaz then held out a determined finish from Waikeepadacash.

"She'll improve so much with that race - she hasn't done a great deal lately."

Pulcinella had to maintain a strong gallop for the entire length of the home straight after getting back in the small field and at no stage looked like flinching.

The $120,000 Ford Manawatu Sires Produce is run on April 16, a gap that suits Sellwood perfectly.

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Kate Hercock landed her first winner for nearly four months when underrated Mark Dean won the $27,500 Legends Fellowship at Ellerslie yesterday.

Hercock jumped off Mark Dean and declared that she had seriously thought about not coming back to racing during her time off with injury.

Hercock has had a new eye socket and cheek bone inserted after a serious race fall at Te Awamutu in early December. "I thought about giving it away - I had some serious doubts."

It was Mark Dean's third win at Ellerslie from four starts on the course. Hercock has been aboard in all three victories.