Strowan and connections photo: Riccarton Park
The Carston Racing team enjoyed a fruitful day on their home track on Thursday.
Trainer Andrew Carston presented eight horses at Riccarton for two winners and three placings.
Strowan kicked off the day picking up the fourth win of his career in Race 1, the Riccarton Park Function Centre Rating 72 (1200m), ridden by Doni Prastiyou.
“It was a drop back in grade from his previous run but I was happy to get him back in the winner’s circle for his owners – they’re a really great syndicate,” Carston said.
“He deserved to win another race, he’s always there about and he tries hard. He carried a bit of weight and he ran a good time so it was a good win.
Stablemate Suggestive Loox, was just one-and-a-half lengths behind Strowan in the finish and she also pleased her trainer.
“She backed up from Saturday and I thought she went really good,” Carston said.
“The race wasn’t run to suit her, Strowan had a pretty soft lead and it was always going to be hard for a back marker to beat him, so she ran a massive race to finish third.”
Carston is going to wait and see how Strowan fares in the ratings following his win before he plots a course for the five-year-old son of Zacinto, while Suggestive Loox might run at Dunedin on March 2.
The stable’s other winner on the day came in Race 8, the Christchurch Casino Maiden (1400m), when Sharp ‘N’ Silver lead home stablemate Vouch to claim the quinella.
Sharp ‘N’ Silver photo: Riccarton Park
“Sharp ‘N’ Silver has been a long-time maiden but she finally broke through at her twentieth start,” Carston said.
“She’s always shown us that she could win a race and I’m surprised it has taken her this long, really.
“She’s had two good runs in a row now and I think she can go on to win another.”
Sharp ‘N’ Silver was ridden by Carston’s apprentice Kozzi Asano who was thrilled to get the second career of his career.
“It was a really good positive ride from Kozzi and she can be a bit of a handful,” Carston said.
“She seems to be clicking with him and I couldn’t be happier for him. He work’s hard and he tries hard so it’s nice to see him getting rewarded.”
The comparatively lightly raced mare Vouch will have to wait until another day to get her maiden win on the board but Carston doesn’t think that day is far away.
“She’s another one that’s taken a lot of work and been a handful but Sam Collett was very complimentary of her and she won’t be far off winning a race.”
Of his other runners on the day Carston was pleasantly surprised by Titanium Jack who finished a length second in the NZB South Island Sale 29 April Maiden (1200m) and El Campeador who finished fourth in the Ford Contracting Maiden (1600m).
“Titanium Jack surprised us a bit running second, he’s had a few average runs but he was ridden quietly and he hit the line hard and I think he could win a race on that performance,” he said.
“El Campeador was similar he’s been pretty ordinary but he ran fourth so he’s another to watch I’m quietly confident with both of them after their runs yesterday.”
Click below for Strowan's winning replay:
Click below for Sharp 'N' Silver's winning replay:
