Taurus provides double satisfaction for trainers

17 April 2015

The Wanganui father and daughter combination had struck earlier in the day with Just A Lover and a number of members of the syndicate that races the promising filly are also involved in her older stablemate.

Taurus (No Excuse Needed) revelled on the Slow 9 track and he powered away with the Puccini Cup from Duffers Creek and Marotiri Miss.

“That was a strong win and they just went too quick for him first-up,” Evan Rayner said.

“I’m thinking of taking Just A Lover to Te Rapa and there’s a mile there for Taurus as well if we go that way.”

Taurus has been a reliable winter performer in recent seasons with all seven of his wins on wet ground.

He also has placings to his credit in the Gr.3 Winter Cup and at Listed level in the Newmarket Handicap, Opunake Cup, Ag Challenge Stakes and the Wanganui Guineas.

“We’ll probably look at the Opunake Cup again, but I don’t think we’ll be going to Riccarton,” Rayner said. “He’s been to the Winter Cup twice and he didn’t travel all that well.”

The Gr.3 Foxbridge Plate later in the winter is another viable option while Rayner said he wouldn’t discount next season’s Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes at Hastings, provided underfoot conditions were there to suit Taurus. – NZ Racing Desk.

Ready to Run wrap up for 2025

Buyers decended on Karaka for the 2025 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale last Wednesday, 12 and Thursday, 13 November in search of their next Feroce (Super Seth), Force Of Nature (Savabeel), etc., where the progeny of Savabeel, Super Seth, Ardrossan, Ocean Park and Noverre were well sought-after – we took a deep dive into the results.

21 November 2025

The Corner with Garry Chittick

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