Cambridge mare Nigella Lane (NZ) (Niagara) was runner-up in last year’s Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and she was able to go one better in this year’s edition at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day.
The last-start winner settled three back on the fence in the hands of in-form hoop Bruno Queiroz, while the Sam Mynott-trained Electron (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) set the tempo up front and race favourite Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) was ridden quietly at the back of the pack.
Taranaki galloper Sindee (NZ) (Ardrossan) began to serve it up to Electron from the 600m mark, injecting some much-needed pace into the race, with Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) shifting out to the one-one position, allowing Nigella Lane to sneak into the trail.
Turning for home, Queiroz was able to extricate his charge off the rail, taking a gap inside Hi Yo Sass Bomb, and chased down the leaders to get her head in front with 100m to go. Khanshe was flying home out wide, but had left her run too late and came up half a neck short of victory, with Hi Yo Sass Bomb a further half head back in third.
Queiroz said he studied Nigella Lane’s last-start victory at Taupo and quizzed jockey Rihaan Goyaram about the mare ahead of his first ride on the six-year-old, and he was rapt to get a winning result.
“She is very professional,” Queiroz said. “I watched the replay before and I spoke with the boy (Rihaan Goyaram) who rode her in her last start. She is so professional, is very good to ride and had a strong finish.”
By Niagara, Nigella Lane is out of Group Two-winning mare Casabella Lane (NZ) (Volksraad) and has now won 8 of her 31 starts and has earned just shy of $285,000 in prizemoney.
It was the second stakes victory of her career, having won the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) last May, while she has also placed in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m), Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m), and Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.
The victory capped a pleasing day for trainer Ralph Manning, who scored a treble on the eight-race card, having earlier won with Finest Hour (NZ) (Derryn) in the Kuripuni Sports Bar & TAB (1000m) and Midnight Train (NZ) (Yes Yes Yes) in the Pope & Gray Contractors Maiden (1300m).
A race prior, New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson got his hands on the Chatham Islands Jockey Club Wairarapa Cup (2050m) following a brave run by Ricochet (NZ) (Toronado).