Summer's Day, brought a ray of sunshine to her connections in the worse conditions at Tauranga, when she won the Listed $50,000 Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m) on Saturday.
Central Districts visitors scored an upset victory, when Katie McKeen won Saturday's $40,000 Orora Kiwi Packaging-LRK Trays Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) at Tauranga.
Admiral has earned high praise from Te Rapa trainer on heavy tracks, and that form was needed in appalling heavy conditions at Tauranga, with the four-year-old taking out the Quadrant Pacific 1200 (Rating 85) on Saturday.
The recent publicized "calling it quits" from Paul Belsham after 24 successful years as a trainer, has reinforced the state at which New Zealand racing stands at present.
Te Rapa trained galloper Thunder Down Under scored his second successive victory, when taking out the $30,000 Fell Engineering (Ohcp) 1600 at Ruakaka on Saturday.
Champion jockey Matt Cameron reiterated why he is this country's leading rider after he was able to literally throw Scamp over the line to win the $20,000 United Cleaning 1400 (Rating 65) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The 29-year-old is chasing his third consecutive NZ Jockey premiership, is currently lying second behind Lisa Allpress - leading with 142 winners.
On Saturday, Cameron rode three winners to close the gap to within four. Allpress had one winner.
It's is no secret that one of the key factors to the success of Cameron is how strong of a rider he is. Scamp's winning ride, was a good case in point.
Cameron jumped Scamp to lead for most of the race but the pair were clearly headed by Jacqui Ickx with 200 metres to run.
Cameron was able to throw the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained gelding over the winning post to win by a short head.
"It was a great ride," co-trainer Andrew Forsman said.
Scamp has now had ten starts for three wins, two placings and more than $32,000 in prize-money.
"We'll have a few more starts this campaign. That was only his third run this campaign. We have to choose what fits for him. Now he's in rating 75 class and see when Matt can be available," Forsman added.
Bred and owned by Brian Henderson, Scamp is by Perfectly Ready out of Just Curious.
Trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards grip on this season's New Zealand trainers Premiership took another step forward their impressive Royal Success recording his third successive victory, when scoring in the $22,500 Norris Ward McKinnon 1600 (Rating 75) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Perseverance paid off for Nina Arora and her Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley, after the three-year-old filly broke through with her first win in convincing style in the $10,000 NRM 1600 at Te Rapa on Saturday.
I've Got This came with a barnstorming finish to capture an action packed $50,000 Electrolux McGregor Grant Steeplechase, in the final bound of the 4150 metre event at Ellerslie yesterday.
Veteran galloper Storming The Tower defied his top-weight to score the $40,000 Ellerslie Jewellers & Engravers Cornwall Handicap (2200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, etching his name among some of New Zealand's great winter gallopers to win the former honored race.
Matamata trainer Graham Richardson is looking forward to next season with exciting juvenile Volpe Veloce, after the filly brilliantly won the Listed $50,000 John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui on Saturday.
Te Rapa trainer Stephen Ralph is aiming towards the Triple Crown series at Hastings in the spring with his three-year-old Thunder Down Under, after the colt comfortably took out the $25,000 Bestaff 1600 (Rating 85) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The Tony Pike trained four-year-old mare Summer's Day extended her good record at Ellerslie on Saturday winning the $40,000 Edwards Sound Chairman's Trophy (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Veteran galloper John Gray is headed to the $40,000 Edwards Sound Chairman's Trophy (1400m) on Saturday at Ellerslie.
Trainer Antony Fuller had also entered to rising twelve-year-old in the Jewellers& Engravers Cornwall Handicap (2200m) later in the day, but has leaned towards the shorter event because of the conditions of the race, being able to have apprentice claim.
"We nominated him for both races, but in the Chairman's Trophy we can actually claim, so Ryan Elliot will ride him and he'll carry 56.5kgs," Fuller said.
The Jahafil gelding was a public favorite last week, marking his 100th career start and in the process notched up his 14th victory.
Among the eight entries for the 1400 metre event are last start winners Illuminati and Summer's Day.
Summer's Day from the strong Tony Pike stable, has won four and placed 7 occasions from 15 starts, and has the services of Danielle Johnston.
The Darci Brahma mare impressively won last week at Ellerslie in the BM85 14000m and looks to one of the main dangers.
Illuminati from Ben Foote's yard won the Listed Rotorua Stakes (1400m) last month. The Keeper mare will also appreciate an apprentice claim, with Emily Farr booked to ride. With Farr's 3kg claim drops the topweight carrying 57kgs.
