Evergreen galloper Green Luck showed there was still plenty of life left in his ten-year-old legs as he downed his younger rivals to take out the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (2000m), the feature event at Riccarton on Saturday.
The former Hong Kong galloper arrived in New Zealand back in 2022 after commencing his career in Australia, where he was successful in two of his three starts before heading to Hong Kong where he won another six races and more than $1million in prizemoney.
Once in New Zealand he joined the stable of Paul Harris winning once before being transferred to Stephanie Faulkner upon the tragic passing of Harris earlier this year, where he took out the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) from her Timaru-based stable back in April.
Faulkner had the son of Street Cry in good nick for the fourth run of his current campaign and he rewarded his loyal followers with a typically gritty effort for rider Tina Comignaghi, leading early on before taking a trail behind pacemakers Fablue and Taramea Lad.
Comignaghi pushed through a gap at the 300m and Green Luck hit the front before shaking off a host of challenges to score by just on a length from Lombardi and Loftys Gift.
Faulkner’s husband Peter was on hand to accept congratulations after another emotional victory.
“A very big thrill as I wasn’t here when he won the Canterbury Gold Cup as I was at my sister’s wedding, so it’s nice to be here and win another Cup,” Faulkner said.
“He has been building every start and getting better each time, so what more can you say.”
Comignaghi was also full of praise for the veteran performer.
“He is great, such a beautiful ride and tries so hard,” she said.
“I think he is a horse that you can do anything you want on him as my plan was to lead, but it didn’t pan out so we took a trail and he settled so well.
“You can’t tell he is as old as he is as he feels great and is a beautiful horse.”
Green Luck has now won 11 races from 64 starts and added a further $28,750 to his stakes earnings which now stand at just over $1.3million.
