Easy On The Eye winning at Phar Lap Raceway, photo: Trackside
The Andrew Carston-trained mare Easy On The Eye delivered a pleasant surprise for connections with a two-length win when resuming in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1600m) on a Heavy10 surface at Phar Lap Raceway on Tuesday.
Under a positive ride from Courtney Barnes, Easy On The Eye got away well from barrier eight to sit behind the leader Sorisso. At the 800m mark she quickened to eyeball the leader with the pair breaking away from the pack, she took the lead from the 400m mark and battled away to win from a gallant Sorisso in the trying conditions.
“To be honest it was quite unexpected,” Carston said. “I thought she wouldn’t cop the really wet track but she got away with it.
“She finished second on the first day of Cup Week at Riccarton and we backed her up the following week and she ran out of steam the second day. So, we just gave her a few days off and freshened her up and this was her first run back so she’ll improve with that.
“She’s a handy wee mare and she’s in for a pretty good prep.
“She’ll have her next race at the Waikouaiti Racing Club’s meeting at Wingatui on January 15 in the Otago Daily Times Southern Mile Series qualifier and then we’ll target the final of that (on March 5).”
Easy On The Eye was bred and is raced by long time Carston Racing Stables client Andy Denham and the Palmerston local was on-course to celebrate the win making it all the more special.
Carston had a good day in Timaru with a trio of second placings as well.
Roca Fundeeda produced an encouraging runner up performance in the McMillan Equine Feeds Dash (1200m) The three-year-old daughter of Road To Rock is being prepared for the Listed Liqourland Gore Guineas (1335m) on January 22.
Melody Roxx was just beaten a length in the Laser Electrical Timaru (1200m).
“She’ll get away to the West Coast now and it was good to see her hit some form.” Carston said.
Carston said he expected Mr Ghibson, who finished second in the Central SI Owners & Trainers (1600m) race will be winning a race soon.
The South Island’s festive racing cavalcade travels to Kurow tomorrow with Carston saddling nine runners including last start winner O’Jude.
“O’Jude has come through the run well so I’m expecting her to back up well and I have two good chances in the maiden 1400m race but I couldn’t split them.”