Home track double for Carston

Trainer Andrew Carston celebrated a winning double at Riccarton on Thursday, taking out the final two races of the afternoon.

It was a day of two halves for Carston, who had been expecting his two earlier runners, Delmonico and Sincere, to be his better chances on the day.  

“They were a bit disappointing,” he said, “but it all came right at the end of the day.”

Andrew Carston, Lexi Porteous and Brandon May pictured with Thats Charming.

Six-year-old Charm Spirit gelding Thats Charming was the first to salute, landing the third win of his career in the $35,000 Listen Live on Sportnation.nz Rating 65 (1200m) with Brandon May on board.

“It was great to get another win with him,” Carston said. “He has some loyal campaigners in his ownership.

“He’s been hard to follow in his career, but he had been racing consistently in his last half-dozen starts and he was rewarded for that consistency yesterday.”

Thats Charming’s win was immediately followed by stablemate San Marco’s win in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Rating 65 (1600m), also worth $35,000, with apprentice Ayush Mudhoo in the saddle.

Andrew Carston pictured with Ayush Mudhoo and San Marco.

Formerly trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott in Matamata, San Marco was having just his second start for Carston, having finished second on debut for the stable.

“His first run for the stable was pleasing so it wasn’t an unexpected win,” he said. “I thought he’d run well, and he came into the race with the claim, and the young fella rode him super, and it was the first winner for a new owner, so it was a very good result.”

San Marco is one of three horses purchased from gavelhouse.com to be trained by Carston, by the Australian-based Blue Sapphire Investments Syndicate.

Following a quiet period for the stable, Carston said things were ramping up with Spring just around the corner.

“We trialled a big team of 10 on Tuesday and I was really pleased with them,” he said. “Miss Ziggy and Jon Ol Rocco are the most notable ones, and they both trialled really well.

Three-year-old Brazen Beau filly Miss Ziggy, who finished third in last year’s TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) will be nominated for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 53^rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas on the first day of New Zealand Cup Week.

While rating 95 six-year-old Time Test Gelding, Jon Ol Rocco will target the Gr.3 Join TAB Racing Club Mile (1600m), on the Wednesday of Cup Week.

“He’s a hard horse to place now as he’s quite high in the handicaps but he’s coming up well,” Carston said. Watch the replay of Thats Charming's win here. Watch the replay of San Marco's win here.