The Mighty Spar posts deserved victory
The Mighty Spar hasn’t had much luck this preparation before the son of Savabeel turned his fortunes around at Otaki on Thursday afternoon.
Trained by Jamie Richards, the Waikato Stud-bred and sold four-year-old settled three back on the
fence before rider Joe Kamaruddin shouldered into the clear at the top of the straight.
The Mighty Spar produced a sustained finish for victory, his second from nine appearances which
include four minor placings.
Luck went his way today following tardy starts at Tauranga and Te Rapa from wide gates in his first
two outings this preparation and was then badly held up at Rotorua before powering home for
second.
The Mighty Spar was a high-priced Karaka yearling when purchased by Te Akau’s David Ellis for
$430,000. He is the first foal and only race day representative to date for the O’Reilly mare
O’Dianne.
She was successful on two occasions and fourth in the Karaka Million and is out of the G3 Frances
Tressady S. winner Breezy, a three-quarter sister to the dam of the G2 Cal Isuzu S. winner Sports
Illustrated and the family of the multiple Group 1 winner and sire Starcraft.
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.
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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.
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