Pins colt powers into Karaka Million contention

14 January 2017

Unbeaten youngster Felton Road has booked his berth in the country’s richest two-year-old race. The WS-bred and sold son of Pins confirmed his presence in the Listed Karaka Million with an impressive winning performance at Ellerslie this afternoon.

He is trained by Tony Pike, whose pre-race confidence was boosted by the earlier success at Trentham of Padraig, who had finished third behind his charge last month. “That was good to see the form franked at Wellington and my horse had trained on well,” he said.

Pike’s only concern had been the wide gate, but under rider Leith Innes it didn’t prove a barrier to success. Felton Road let down strongly in the run home for a convincing victory.

A $20,000 Karaka yearling, he is a son of the unraced O’Reilly mare Rose Red. She is a three-quarter sister to the dam of the Group Three winner and Group One placegetter Tootsie.

Pure Alpha delivers again as Ardrossan continues to rise

Ardrossan gelding Pure Alpha led throughout to win by 1.29 lengths at Eagle Farm for owner Ozzie Kheir, taking his earnings past $300,000. The result caps a stellar run for sire Ardrossan, whose yearlings fetched up to $450,000 this year on strong Hong Kong form.

28 August 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It is difficult to maintain momentum when sitting in judgment of racing’s governance. After all, I get no pleasure in searching for non-credible decisions, but one is perpetually bewildered by the rationale behind many of the positions that make little sense.