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Underrated mare Rohaise capped off a sparkling weekend for her trainer Fraser Auret when she upset pre-race predictions in the CR Grace/Taylor Preston Handicap (1650m) at Waverley on Sunday to score a memorable win.
Most discussions before the event had centered on the two big guns in the race, multiple Group One winner Nashville and 2013 Couplands Bakeries Mile winner Scapolo, however it was the five-year-old daughter of Towkay who upstaged her more illustrious rivals with a narrow but decisive victory in the open handicap event.
Rider Lisa Allpress had the mare well placed throughout the contest and shot her clear early in the run home as both Scapolo and Nashville tried to find clear air to mount a challenge. Once they did find some galloping room they charged after Rohaise but to no avail as she kept up a strong gallop to score by long neck from Scapolo with Nashville a head back in third.Auret was delighted with the effort after the mare had experienced a number of problems during a recent campaign in the South Island.
“She just had a horror time down south with tracks that didn’t suit her and other bits and pieces,” he said.“She freshened up nicely and was impressive at the jump-outs the other day so with a nice light weight she has got the job done.”
Auret admitted he was still on a high after Julinksy Prince had triumphed in a desperately close finish to the Gr. 2 Japan NZ International Trophy at Tauranga on Saturday.“It was a massive thrill to win the race as he was giving weight to a lot of very good horses,” he said.
“ I can tell you the trip up there took about five hours but it was only five minutes to get home!“