Locals make a flying start to day | Manawatu-Wanganui Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Manawatu-Wanganui

The locals began the day with a hiss and a roar at the Wanganui meeting yesterday producing the quinella in the first race.

The Nigel Auret-trained and bred Dashing Dottie came with the last run to claim the Foxton-trained but Wanganui-owned Clan O'Ceirin by three-quarters of a length with Hawea visitor Cool Moon third.

Dashing Dottie is by Faltaat out of Auret's Epidaurus mare Epic Pulse. All her foals to have raced - apart from Road Runner who ran fourth in a later race yesterday - have won.

The best of them is Dashing Donna, sold by the Aurets to clients of Donna and Dean Logan.

"This one (Dashing Dottie) has just kept improving and we'll just take her through the grades at this stage. Road Runner went a nice race today, but needs a mile - his day will come. We have two colts waiting in the wings and yet to race, but she's 21 now so probably nearing the end of her breeding career," Auret said.
 

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The roll continued for the locals in the second on the card when Gus came off the pace to win the G Bristol and Sons 1200.

The Evan and JJ Rayner-trained Captain Rio four-year-old, ridden by Hayden Tinsley, is raced by good mates and Wanganui businessmen Alistair Murdoch, Allan Barnes, Stu Watts and Sonny Teki.

Yesterday Gus sat third back on the rail before Tinsley eased him out on the turn to first claim Brokeback Mountain and then stave off the challenge of eventual runner-up I Do with Brokeback Mountain third.

"His last win here at Wanganui was over the mile and we planned to lead and run them off their feet and that's just what happened," Evan Rayner said.

"Today over the shorter trip we decided to sit in behind and it was pleasing to see him run home strongly. We'll take it one at a time with him at this stage."

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The Vela brothers may have had mixed results at the annual Karaka yearling sales this week there was no doubt about their results at Wanganui yesterday. The brothers' Van Nistelrooy mare Vandenne, in the hands of leading rider James McDonald, was an easy winner of the Rating 65 JD Workman and Co 1340, beating a brave last-start winner Nine Iron with the Royden Bergerson-trained Denlee third.

Vandenne, prepared by the Vela brothers' private trainers Steven Ramsey and Julia Ritchie, sat third before McDonald gave her a shuffle up on turning to clear away for a two-length victory.

Rosie Myers did her boss Mike Breslin proud when winning three races on the card yesterday, including the first of two apprentice rider-only events.

Myers bagged Wanganui Steelformers 1340 maiden on Jilted and then three races later repeated the dose on Minnaleo in the Faulding Sound 1600 for maidens. Faltaat four-year-old mare Jilted was having her fifth raceday start, while Minnaleo, by Black Minnaloushe, improved on recent placings.

Myers led all the way to win the last on the card with red hot favourite Angelology, trained by her uncle Kevin Myers from Turakina.