Trainer Andrew Carston. Photo: Trish Dunell
Aunt Cindy led from start to finish on Thursday to score at Timaru, though she had to share the spoils.
The four-year-old daughter of Ocean Park jumped cleanly for jockey Brett Murray and the pair set the pace in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m).
They looked the likely winners till Row of Eights lodged a late challenge and the pair went toe to toe to the line with the judge eventually declaring the finish a dead heat.
“She has been knocking on the door and I believe she will go on from here,” trainer Andrew Carston said. “I was feeling confident, getting back to a smaller track after a good run at Riccarton last start down the chute.”
Aunt Cindy had placed in the North Island from the stable of Stephen McKee before making her way south and Carston was grateful for the opportunity to add her to his Riccarton stable.
“She’s from the family of Sunline and I’m grateful to Stephen McKee and Gary Chittick for leasing her to me,” Carston said. “She’s a lovely mare that will progress from here.”