Latest News: Folding Gear Back in Winners' Circle

Latest News

• Folding Gear Back in Winners’ Circle
• Chase The Sun Claims Riverton Cup
• Tough Backbone Wins Galilee Final

Folding Gear Back in Winners' Circle

Group 2 winner Folding Gear (NZ) made an impressive return to the winners' circle at Caulfield on Saturday when claiming the A$125,000 Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m).

Trained by Lee & Shannon Hope, Folding Gear (Johar x Royal Show) settled back in running and picked his way through the field, finding clear running room in the straight and powering away in the final 100 metres to win by a comfortable two lengths for jockey Ben Melham.

Folding Gear came into the Group 3 two starts back from a spell after striking wet tracks at his first two appearances this campaign. The spring saw the four-year-old have just two starts which included a second in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

Saturday's victory retained the son of Johar's unbeaten record at Caulfield where he has won both of his starts, the other coming last season in the Group 2 Autumn Classic.

Bred by Chequers N.Z., Folding Gear was purchased by Paul Duncan from Chequers Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Karaka Select Sale for $30,000. He was later offered at the 2009 Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds where he was purchased by Lee Hope from Esker Lodge for $50,000.

Raced by Mr K J Beck, Folding Gear has won three of his ten race starts for over A$250,000 in stakes earnings.

Chase The Sun Claims Riverton Cup

Saturday's $60,000 Listed Carriers Arms Hotel Riverton Cup (2147m) saw the eight-year-old Chase The Sun (NZ) put in a big performance to claim his second race at black-type level.

Trained by Michael Pitman, Chase The Sun (Pentire x Glimmer) was ridden back in the field by jockey Jamie Bullard before improving at the 600 metres and challenging the leaders in the straight, taking the lead in the final strides to win by a head.

The winner of eight of his 46 career starts, Chase The Sun won fresh up in December at Kurow and came into Saturday's Listed event after running fifth at Riccarton over 1800 metres. His first win at black-type level came in October 2010 when he won the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton.

Bred by Ian Hadfield, Chase The Sun was purchased by Casitas Bloodstock from Esker Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2005 Karaka Select Sale for $25,000. He has now won over $200,000 in stakes for his owner John Pitman.

Chase The Sun capped off a highly successful weekend for his sire Pentire who saw his daughter Say No More win the Group 1 Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes at Te Aroha on Saturday.

Tough Backbone Wins Galilee Final

Tough staying three-year-old Backbone capped off a successful weekend for New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale when winning the A$100,000 Listed Galilee Final (2400m) at Mornington on Sunday.

His first victory at black-type level, Backbone (Mossman x Fuss) raced wide mid-field before settling fourth and, in a determined victory, claimed the lead 600 metres from home and held off his rivals in the straight to win by one-and-three-quarter-lengths.

Bred by Mr D Guihot, Backbone was purchased by Surf Coast Racing Pty from Anzac Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2010 Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds for $240,000.

Raced by Mr M J Casey, Mrs J Casey, Mr D P Mclennan, Mr S E C Duke, Ms J Kadlckova, Ms T Tauschek, Mr M Tauschek, Mr G Barker, Mr S F Priestly and Dr A C Gay Backbone has won three of his seven starts for over A$80,000 in stakes and is the 19th stakes winner for his sire Mossman.

ENDS

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