Rudyard powers to Pukekohe victory
The Tony Pike-trained Rudyard produced a storming late finish at Pukekohe on Saturday afternoon to account for his Rating 65 rivals over 1600 metres.
The son of Charm Spirit had finished an encouraging fourth when opening his campaign on the course earlier this month and showed the benefit of that outing to make it three wins from 14 appearances.
Part-owned by Waikato Stud, Rudyard drifted back to last from his outside gate before rider Ryan Elliot worked his magic in the straight.
He made ground along the fence before having to change ground 75 metres off the post, but kept his mount balanced and they got home in a grandstand finish.
Rudyard is a son of Savabeel’s dual Group 2-winning daughter Lady Kipling and was purchased by Pike for $280,000 out of Windsor Park Stud’s draft at Karaka.
The Corner with Garry Chittick
It would appear I now have to continue my weekly Corner with the amount of rumblings at the start of our new racing season. I have been around long enough to know we can never please all; my tenure as Chairman of the Racing Board was subjected to as much vitriol as subsequent Boards have had to bear, so what’s different this time, or is it different.
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First foal for Waikato’s Group 1 winner Skew Wiff
Group 1-winning Savabeel mare Skew Wiff (ex Starvoia), known affectionately as ‘Wiffy’, foaled a filly by Super Seth in the early hours of Wednesday, 5 August.
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