A day of mixed emotions for Carston

Trainer Andrew Carston left Riccarton Racecourse on Saturday with mixed feelings.

He was relieved that his stakes performed filly Miss Ziggy, had finally broken maiden ranks in the first race, happy to hear via Love Racing that her win was his 300^th, and proud of his friend Kylie Williams who rode her 1000^th winner that day.

Carston pictured with Miss Ziggy, Lexi Porteous, Kylie Williams and apprentice Yogesh Atchamah who rides Miss Ziggy in trackwork.

However, a five-horse fall in the eighth race, which resulted in the abandonment of the remaining two races, left Carston ultimately concerned for the jockeys involved.

“The whole day was marred by the horrible incident, but these things happen and we’re just glad everyone got out of it safely,” Carston said.

Miss Ziggy, who finished fourth in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes and third in the Listed Karaka Millions 2YO, went into the Speight’s Summit Ultra on Tap Maiden (1400m) as one of the best-performed maidens in the country on Saturday.

Jumping from barrier five with Williams on board, Miss Ziggy was hampered at the start losing a bit of ground but settling well in the second to last position on the rail. Brought to the outside on the bend, she kicked away to win by a long neck.

“It was a lovely ride by Kylie,” Carston said. “She dropped her out the back and she relaxed nicely and quickened nicely. She probably could have won by a little bit more; she got to the front and knocked off.

“It was relief to get her maiden win, but I’m mostly happy that she relaxed and ran home because she had been doing a little bit wrong.

“I’m very pleased that she’s back on track and that she got rid of that maiden tag.”

That track could lead to the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) on November 8, however Carston said her next start would be in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton on October 11.

The Ritchie Breeding Ltd-owned filly has now had 10 starts for five placings and a win.

Carston was also pleased with his other runners Mogul, who finished second, and Maybe Diva, who finished sixth in The Plough Hotel Racing 65 (1400m).

His other runner Ess Vee Are was hampered in the fall in race 8.

“Mogul and Maybe Diva both ran really good races,” he said. “Ess Vee Are was caught up in the fall, he didn’t fall but we’ll forget he went around and the rest of them didn’t race.”

On training his 300^th winner, Carston was quick to thank his supporters.

“It’s a milestone and it’s always pleasing to reach those numbers,” he said. “I’ve obviously had a super team of jockeys, owners and staff around me.”

He was also pleased to have provided Williams with her 999^th winner.

“She’s ridden 66 winners for us and she’s been a big part of our stable for a lot of years, so it was a super result for her to get the thousand and we’re really happy for her too.

And while celebrations may have been put on ice on Saturday, following the shock of the fall, they haven’t been abandoned.

 “I’m sure we will,” Carston said.

Click here to watch a replay of the race.