For those looking for a succinct summary of the result in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie, the answer was very simple – Well Written first, daylight second.
Expat Kiwi jockey Logan Bates returned home to record his biggest moment in racing when scoring his first elite-level success aboard Manhattan Rain gelding Jigsaw in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Queensland trainer Liam Birchley continued his great association with the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) when recording his third win in the juvenile feature at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Good looking Zoustar colt Space Rider has always shown glimpses of serious talent and kicked off his autumn campaign with a first up win in the $200,000 Group III Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Listed MRC Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday had it’s share of drama with race favourite Eurocanto coming out after playing up in the gates and interference over the concluding stages made for a messy finish with the winner Alibaba not entered for the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes next month.
A very heavy track at New Plymouth in New Zealand on Saturday did not dampen the potential of promising juvenile King of the Air, who made a winning debut to become the second winner for his young sire Acrobat.