Carston kicks off Easter a winning double

Riccarton-based trainer Andrew Carston was happy to kick off the long weekend with a winning double at Ashburton on Thursday. 

Super Seth filly, Giggly Gal started the day off on a positive note when she took out the Supporting Dynamic Gymnastics (1600m) maiden with a barnstorming run under jockey Kyle Williams.

“She’s a nice filly, she’s taken a bit of time to mature but she’s been building to a win,” Carston said. 

Giggly Gal was having her tenth race day start for Taimate Equine’s Two Fillies Syndicate.

“I have around half a dozen horses in work for the Taimate team,” Carston said. “They’ve put together a good group to race her and I think they’ll have a lot of fun with her too.”

Fellow Taimate-owned runner Taimate Staar also ran at Ashburton on Thursday, following her last start win with a third placing in the Gilbert Butterick Memorial (2200m).

“It was a good positive first up run out of maidens, it’s always hard for them to take that next step but I thought she ran well.” Carston said. 

Four-year-old mare Hard Attack was the other winner for Carston, she claimed her maiden victory in the Agraforum Zumsil  (1200m).

“She’s been a little frustrating,” Carston said. “I thought she would have won before now, but she has some loyal owners and she deserved the win.

“She came down from Steven and David Cole, they own her and I lease her - I’ve had a bit of luck with them, they’ve sent me some nice horses so it was pleasing to win a race with her” 

Hard Attack was given a very positive ride by jockey Yogesh Atchamah despite jumping from barrier 14. 

She pinged the gates and was sent forward early to cross the field and take the lead. Her raw speed managed to get her home clear by 1.5 lengths after leading all the way. 

“She’s very fast and unfortunately there’s not a lot of 1000m races around so I have nothing in mind for her next, it’s just good to have got her off the mark.”

Looking ahead to Saturday, Carston has the Trelawney Stud-owned Steezy taking her place in the Listed Liqourland Gore Guineas (1600m) at Riverton. 

Carston said that the three-year-old Russian Revolution filly is a good each way chance. 

After the buzz of Easter racing settles, Carston is looking forward to some key runners stepping out at Riccarton next Saturday.  

Maybe Diva is set to run in the $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) and Miss Ziggy is being aimed at the Listed 3YO NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m).