KEY POINTS:
Richard Yuill had one stable runner entered at Te Awamutu yesterday and the drive to the Waikato was worthwhile when Waikeepadacash won the $50,000 feature event.
The Pukekohe Park-based trainer was in a cheerful mood after Waikeepadacash stormed home to score an easy victory in the Te Awamutu Cup.
"It's always good when you can skite to the owners that they've won the feature race here in New Zealand," said Yuill.
"He's a good, honest racehorse and this race was his first start in open company and he's won over $150,000 in stake money plus a further $100,000 in bonus payments.
"For a 90 rating racehorse that's a pretty good achievement as he's won all that money without racing in races like the New Zealand Derby or Auckland Cup."
With the abandonment of yesterday's Marton meeting, the Te Awamutu-based fixture received plenty of support from punters.
Waikeepadacash reached the finish line in convincing fashion for in-form jockey Vinny Colgan, scoring by three lengths over Point Guard with a further half-length back to the favourite Bellevue Lass.
The 5-year-old has a proven racing record on right-handed tracks - scoring seven of his eight wins - on clockwise tracks although punters let that slip, allowing the Yuill-trained runner to pay 11-1. The victory completed an impressive hat-trick for Colgan following easy victories recorded by Monorae and Magic Mountain. Monorae was a $3 favourite with punters while magic Mountain was a $12 chance.
"I am definitely keen on taking him to Christchurch for the Winter Cup and we may also start him in the Opunake Cup as a lead-up run as it's worth $100,000", said Yuill.
"The stable has had a good run this season and with all the spring horses to come back into training we're going to have a pretty exciting time next season."
SAM COLLETT made the most of previous riding knowledge when teaming with Dan's Best to win the John F Grylls Memorial Classic.
Collett has ridden Dan's Best throughout this racing campaign and was rewarded for her patience, punching the 4-year-old powerfully along the rail in the home stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths over the favourite Keeper Coming.
A further three-quarters of a length away in third position was Final Frontier.
The 4-year-old has been a consistent performer for owner and senior co-trainer Royce Dowling scoring two wins and 10 placings from 19 starts.
Winter racing obviously agrees with the son of Black Minnaloushe, who will not be difficult to place in coming months.
