Ellerslie runner-up caps big weekend for in-form Carston stable

$1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) contender Miss Ziggy gave trainer Andrew Carston plenty to smile about at Ellerslie on Sunday, finishing a strong second in the Cloudsoft Accounting 1500, behind Chilling Out.

“I was surprised that she was nearly the favourite, she was just having a day out today,” Carston said. “She was going to have a wee gap between runs, so I just thought that was a nice option to give her a day out and another look around Ellerslie, and it went to script.”

The daughter of Brazen Beau only arrived in Auckland from Christchurch midweek, settling in at Stephen Cole’s property at Byerley Park, and the outing ticked plenty of boxes ahead of her main target later this month. Miss Ziggy has already shown her ability on the big stage, having finished third in last year’s Karaka Millions 2YO.

Jockey Kylie Williams also made the trip north to partner Miss Ziggy at Ellerslie and she will retain the ride on Karaka Millions night.

“Kylie will ride her, Carston said. “She gets on really well with her, she isn’t the easiest ride too and Kylie has her going well so I’m more than happy to have her on.”

Carston’s Karaka Millions assault doesn’t stop there, with exciting I Am Invincible filly I Am Belle also in the mix for the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).

“The two-year-old has been up here ten days, she stayed at Lisa Latta’s after Wellington and now she’s at Byerley Park – so they’re both here,” he said. “It’s all go, I Am Belle will jump out at Pukekohe tomorrow and they’ll both go into Ellerslie on January 20 and then hopefully they’re both in the grand finals on January 24.”

Both horses are raced by Glenn Ritchie under his Ritchies Breeding Ltd banner.

Meanwhile, on Saturday Carston trained an early double at Kumara.

Steezy, a three-year-old daughter of Russian Revolution, broke through in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series maiden for two-year-olds, while Good Craic, a five-year-old by Per Incanto, scored in the Joan Meates Memorial over 1150 metres.

Steezy and Kylie Williams in winning stride at Kumara

“Steezy had been building to that, I felt the race fitted her perfectly,” Carston said. “She drew one around a little track, she’s an on-speed runner and she obliged.

Steezy, is raced by Trelawney Stud’s Brent Taylor and Cherry Taylor, along with their daughter Ella Taylor and Brent's mother Faith Taylor, who have been loyal supporters of Carston.

“It was a good result for Trelawney Stud; they always have a horse with me and it’s great to get a good result for them and she got the Pearl Series bonus too so that’s even better.”

Steezy will now be set on a black-type mission.

“The natural progression for her is to have a crack at the Listed Gore Guineas (February 1), we’re aiming to get black-type for her so that will be her next run.”

Good Craic only recently found her way into Carston’s stable, and she provided her Carston who also owns her, with a pleasant return.

Good Craic, was also successful at Kumara under Kylie Williams.

“Lisa Latta brought her down for Cup Week and left her here and I looked at her form and I decided to race her myself,” Carston said. “She’s in good form and I thought she’d win a race over the summer, and she has. All her runs in the South Island have been good. So, let’s hope she gets a bit of confidence from that and hopefully she can win another one.”

Carston was full of praise for good friend Williams, who rode both horses.

“They were two superb rides by Kylie Williams too – she pulled their pants down in both races, she’s riding really well.”