KEY POINTS:
Popular rider Mark Sweeney wasted no time in making an impact after more than two years away from the track at the Tauranga meeting yesterday.
In just a handful of rides, Sweeney ran third on Miss Montjeu and then two races later kicked the Jim Pender-trained local Son Of Pupil clear for a comprehensive victory in the R76 1400m.
He almost made it a fairytale return from injury in the open handicap, the $30,000 Gartshore Group 1600, aboard fifth-placed outsider Kenadaad.
Sweeney, 31, had the gelding in a sweet trail and peeled out like he would edge past pacemaker Hagar in the straight.
Hagar kept kicking and then Mandela, Ritzy Lady and finally winner La Force chimed in to spoil the party in a blanket finish.
The Murray Baker-trained La Force won by just a short head for apprentice Troy Harris with just noses separating the next four.
Ritzy Lady was the unlucky runner. Freshened since her impressive New Zealand St Leger success, she was late clearing a pocket in the straight for rider David Walsh.
The run should have sealed a trip to Queensland for the new-look Brisbane Cup on June 11, which is this year shortened from 3200m to 2400m for the first time.
