It was huge payday at the Manukau Stadium on Sunday after the Craik family seized the greater portion of the $11,240 stake that was on offer for the NZRS Advanced final. They bred and trained Westworld and Beautiful Boy to form the quinella in the 527m feature event.
Pictured: Sunday’s NZRS Advanced winner Westworld
Ben Craik and his wife Barbara have for many decades bred, reared and trained their own racing stock. Recently they have been joined by their daughters Lisa and Tracy in the family operation.
Westworld warmed up his Sunday assignment when he resumed from a brief freshen up to win the previous Sunday’s 527m open class event. On Sunday he stepped away okay from the one trap, settling just in behind the pace during the early rush for positions. The warm race favourite Cristiane Cyborg settled a conspicuous last after badly bombing the race start.
It was his kennel mate Beautiful Boy who led into the first turn. Unbeknown was handy for his trainer Emma Potts with Westworld just in behind. Beautiful Boy was thriving in his work when this son of El Grand Senor and Just Jordana built a handy race lead.
Momentarily, Westworld looked like he was going to be held in midfield traffic, however he stylishly started to extend when heading into the home turn. Cristiane Cyborg was also starting to improve her field position from the rear group.
Beautiful Boy turned in for the run home still holding a buffer however Westworld was ominously looming into contention. He mastered his kennel mate during the run home to nail his feature win by a neck margin. The son of Lochinvar Marlow and Vaccinium returned 30.62s for his 527m assignment.
Cristiane Cyborg was huge when she flicked on the turbo chargers during the run home which saw this Hayley Mullane prepared daughter of Bekim Bale and Nina’s Girl rocket home for her third placing, a length and a half further behind.
Westworld has now raced on 37 occasions, resulting in 13 wins and 11 minor placings which add up to $33,700 in stake earnings (excluding Breeders’ bonus payments) for Ben and Tracy Craik who own him between them. The strength of his feature Sunday win says there will more successes in front of him for both himself and kennel mate Beautiful Boy.
Auckland Chairman presented Tracy Craik with the NZRS Advanced trophy; runner up Beautiful Boy and third placed Cristiane Cyborg
By Peter Fenemor
