Photo: Race Images via Te Akau Racing
Curraghmore graduates brought up a winning double at the Marton Jockey Club's Cup meeting at Awapuni on Saturday.
First to enter the winner's circle was Blue on Black (Camelot x Arlington Rock) who was resuming after an eight month spell.
The Anne Herbert-trained four-year-old jumped cleanly in the Southern Rangitikei Veterinary Services 1400 and travelled one off the leader under Trudy Thornton.
Once on the straight he responded to Thornton's urgings and strode clear of his rivals to hold off a fast-finishing Credit Manager to win by .2L.
Herbert explained it took some work to get Blue On Black back to the races.
"He had an injury unfortunately which was pretty nasty," she said. "It was a long time getting him back."
"We were actually quietly confident today in his work he has been amazing.
"He is very honest and if we stay at 1400m with this guy and with a slightly better track it will be better for him.
"We are absolutely rapt."
Bred by Geoff and Janetta Taylor, Gordon Calder, and Bill and Jamie Thurlow, Blue on Black was sold as a weanling through Curraghmore's 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock draft when purchased by Herbert for $90,000.
Two races later Weaponry (Declaration of War x Cat Shmea) continued his strong run of form winning the Central ITM Rating 82 (1600m).
Content to race three wide near the pace Weaponry appeared to travel best when straightening for the run home though rider Opie Bosson had to keep him up to the mark in order to deliver.
“He was a bit keen for the first 200 metres, but then he came back to me and dropped the bit,” Bosson said. “I hit the front a bit soon and he started gawking around, but we know he does that, and I had to really keep his mind on the job.”
“He’s a bit of a goof, to be fair,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “But to the horse’s credit when they came at him he really kept finding and it was a good strong ride from Opie. I love it when he lifts them over the line like that.
“He didn’t get any cover, but once he got half a length back off the leader he relaxed well. He’s a stakes winner from last season, above average, and we’ll just keep working him through the grades.
Weaponry, who was bred by Shelley Frost and her late mother Raewyn Ramage at Braided River Thoroughbreds, was purchased by David Ellis for $140,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale Curraghmore's draft. - Curraghmore, Te Akau Racing
Photo: Trish Dunell
