Lightly-tried
speedster Carnival has earned herself a role on centre stage and provided her sire Showcasing (GB with his 20th stakes-winner.
The Riccarton mare turned on a stirring sprinting show on her home track on
Wednesday when she won the Gr.3 Lindauer Stewards' Stakes Handicap (1200m) to
earn a crack at one of the country's premier events.
"She's going to the Telegraph and why wouldn't you?" said Kevin Hughes, who
trains the short-course performer with his wife Pam.
Carnival was making just the eighth appearance of her career when she followed
up a previous Rating 75 success for an early black type strike.
"She's a very fast little horse and it's great for (owners) Don and Wendy Pye,
they put so much money into racing," Hughes said.
Carnival showed her pace to sit outside the leader Passing Shot and the pair
were at each other over the closing 350m before the local got the better of the
Stephen McKee-trained front-runner in the shadows of the post.
"Full credit to the Hughes team, who presented the mare in great order," successful
jockey Samantha Collett said.
"She didn't jump that well, but in two strides she was flying to get alongside
Passing Shot and it took the length of the straight to get past him. She's very
tough."
Passing Shot turned in a gallant performance in his first appearance for seven
months.
"He's been good at the trials, but there was a question whether that was enough
for a high pressure race," McKee said.
As it turned out, it wasn't with Passing Shot coming up short by only a head
and Kinagat got home strongly down the outside to finish third. – NZ Racing Desk.