The Lyn and Andrew Neal trained Changeover entire Risk continued his rapid rise through the grades when defeating a field that comprised some of the North Island’s best pacers, including NZ Cup favourites Sky Major and Ohoka Punter, at his first start in open class company in The Holmes D G (2,700m) at Alexandra Park on Friday evening.
The least experienced runner in a field that contained the winners of almost $2 million in stakes and near last with 800m to go Risk charged home late to nab 2015 Harness Jewels winner Lancewood Lizzie on the line by a nose with triple Jewels winner Sky Major and the dual Derby winner Ohoka Punter dead heating for third a length further back.
Risk, who clearly looks a Cups horse in the making, has now won four of his five starts this season and six overall for lifetime earnings of just over $43,000.
Risk’s main aim for now is the $50,000 PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales Series Aged Pace at Kaikoura on November 2, but his trainers will surely be looking ahead to the rich Group 1 4-year-old features the Taylor Mile and Messenger Pace in late April.
Across the Tasman, the best daughter of Changeover to date, Nuala, was flying the flag for her sire, chalking up win number 12 from just 14 starts, at Gloucester Park on Friday, and surpassing $100,000 in earnings in doing so.
It was a terrific weekend of results for the promising young sire with Controversial recording his ninth win in a career best time of 1:55 at Newcastle on the same evening and Webb Ellis registering his fourth win in a smart 1:56.5 mile rate also on Friday at Addington Raceway.
The following evening the 4-year-old mare Chevy’s Convertible became Changeover’s 60th individual winner when victorious at Manawatu Raceway, while on Sunday the consistent Glenferrie Boss won his eighth race at Kilmore, and at Wairio in Southland Tight Lipped improved Changeover’s winners tally to 61, with an easy one and a half length maiden victory.
Changeover’s first two crops have now won well over $1.2 million in stakes and again look like they will be a major force on both sides of the Tasman this season.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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