Yamuna and Kozzi Asano score at Phar Lap Raceway
The Andrew Carston-trained mare Yamuna impressed when winning the Garrard and Livamol Rating 74 (1600m) at Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru on Sunday.
Ridden by stable apprentice Kozzi Asano, the daughter of Iffraaj got off to a good start from barrier five, settling in mid-field before getting out just after the 400m mark and sprinting down the leaders to win by a neck on the line.
“She’s a handy horse,” Carston said. “She’s been pretty consistent and she was a little unlucky in her last two runs so we went into the race with a bit of confidence.”
Now the winner of five races and placed on a further 10 occasions, Yamuna is raced under Ray and Ann Cattle’s Anray Holdings Ltd banner.
“It was great to have her back in the winners’ circle and good to get another win for Ray and Ann who have been good supporters of the stable,” Carston said.
While Carston is yet to confirm her next start he indicated that he has a black-type race in mind for Yamuna.
“We’ll just take her through the winter and pick and choose our races,” he said. “I’m not in a rush to make a decision where we go next but I did put a nomination in for the Winter Cup (Gr.3) so that’s probably a long term aim if she keeps going in the right direction.”
Yamuna was bred by Haunui Farm and she’s by their former shuttle stallion Iffraaj out of the multiple race-winning Yamanin Vital mare Yamanna.
It was a good day for Carston who trained three additional placegetters. Bad Flamingo finished second in the GM Accounting & Consulting Maiden Stakes (1600m), Where’s Wally finished third in the Bob Goodeve Memorial Handicap (1200m) and Mr Ghibson finished third in the Thank You Phar Lap Raceway Handicap (1600m).
“Mr Ghibson went really well and he’s pretty close to winning,” he said. “Where’s Wally is going well and he’s a chance going into the winter months and Bad Flamingo went well in the maiden race too so overall it wasn’t a bad day and I was just rapt to get Yamuna over the line.”