Riccarton Park Results (Race 8)

Saturday, 24th October 2015

8
16:20
(local)

C'church Casino Spring Classic (LR)

WT: 53kg Type: OPEN
NZD $50,000
2000m TURF GOOD
8
16:20
(local)
NZD $50,000
2000m GOOD

C'church Casino Spring Classic (LR)

WT: 53kg Type: OPEN

The Listed Open Handicap over 2000m was won easily today by the 9yo deep Southerner in The Bishop. The evergreen stayer was winning his tenth race from fifty-one outings and eight of those have come at 1800m or further. He simply outstayed these under 59kg after improving from the back wide and surging into contention at the 300m. The 2:02.33 clocked found a few out the run home the way the race was run overall. The solid finishing Southern Sav came from the back for second while a fresh up since March in the 7yo mare Black Stockings was a brave third after being handy most of the way. Sureasyouwereborn fought well for fourth after also racing handy and the first four were superior to the rest with a nearly three length gap back to the fifth finisher a running on Alpine Heights. Wild Bill was asked a fair bit of in the running so weakening to sixth was excusable. Madam Victoria was disappointing and is clearly a sprinter-miler. Miss Three Stars was outclassed prior to this in the third leg of the Triple Crown at Hastings over 2040m at G1 under WFA. She was poor today too and at the moment only a shadow of the strong closer from last season. The first four home can all contest the New Zealand Cup over 3200m here in a few weeks but will meet much more depth from the North Island.