Local trainer Lisa Latta was a dominant force at Awapuni’s Synthetic meeting on Friday, winning four races, including the Carters Ashurst-Pohangina Cup (2140m) with Sir Mikki.
It was the second consecutive win on the surface for the son of Mikki Isle, who was once again piloted by Chris Dell.
Dell settled the four-year-old midfield and enjoyed an economical passage throughout before he was asked to improve with 500m to go and quickly found the lead at the top of the straight and held off the challenge of Just Charlie to win by a neck.
“It was really good to take out the Cup with Sir Mikkie. He has had to lug the 60 kilos, but he is tough,” stable representative Josh Herd said.
“He came through his last start win really well and it was another great ride by Chris today.”
Sir Mikki will now head north next month to tackle a lucrative Cambridge Synthetic target.
“We will look to head to that $100,000 Cambridge Synthetic race over 2000m (on August 8),” Herd said.
The stable also tasted success on Friday with Final Chapter in the Chris Gommans & Sons Contracting 2140, Bee Enchanted in the Murray Free Contracting LTD 1200, and Lincoln Towers in The Pavemasters 1400.
“Final Chapter improved a tonne today on the synthetic,” Herd said. “That was a great ride by Chris (Dell), he got back and weaved a passage through them. He was impressive and strong through the line.
“Be Enchanted is a really handy horse on the synthetic. That was his fourth win on the synthetic and we will target one of the $100,000 races with him now.
“Lincoln Towers galloped up on Saturday in the blinkers and we were pretty confident heading into today. Ace Lawson-Carroll (jockey) jumped off last start and said to put the blinkers on and he will improve six lengths, and he did that.”
Herd is hoping the stable can continue their winning momentum into Saturday where they will have six representatives at Hastings, with Herd labelling Lurid in the Happy Hire Handicap (2100m) as their best chance.
“It will be interesting to see how the track plays,” he said. “I think Lurid in the last is probably a good eachway bet, he handles the heavy tracks quite well.”
