A Touch of Class in Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup
20 April 2015
Karaka graduate Classcoroc (NZ) (Sirocco) breezed to victory in the Group 3 $75,000 Winning Edge Presentations Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup (2200m) at Hastings on Saturday.
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Classcoroc (NZ) triumphs in the Group 3 Winning Edge Presentations Hawke's Bay Gold Cup. |
Classcoroc has had 41 raceday starts, winning five of these for trainer Graeme Hughes. Unlucky in her last two starts, she previously finished second in the Listed Kaimai Stakes over 2000m.
“It was a huge thrill for us,” commented Hughes. “It’s not outside her league – she is a funny mare though, sometimes it is hard to get a gauge on how she is, but at the end of the day she is pretty honest and if you get her feeling good on the day, she can deal with most of them.
“We have put in the nomination for her at Te Rapa on Saturday in the Fillies and Mares race but we will just play it by year – she may just go straight to the spelling paddock from the Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup. We will wait to see how the nominations stack up and make a decision tomorrow.”
Coming from a wide barrier, Alysha Collett rode Classcoroc forward in the early stages to race into second place as the field passed the post for the first time. Leading the field on the rail was Slazenjah (NZ) (Towkay) while Classcoroc travelled steadily sitting half-a-length off.
With 800m left to run, Classcoroc took over as the leader and stormed ahead as she hit the home straight, racing to victory by half-a-length, while Rose Of Virginia (NZ) (Thorn Park) and Mako (NZ) (Ustinov) ranged up to finish in second and third position respectively.
Owned by GL & Mrs R Hughes and CR Baker, Classcoroc has now earned $122,250 in prizemoney.
The six-year-old mare was purchased at the 2010 Karaka Festival Sale by Mr GL Hughes for $5,000 from Archer Park.
Bred by Mrs BE Brough, Classcoroc is out of Class Torque (Masterclass), a half-sister to Bird (Danasinga), winner of the Listed Warstep Stakes, and dual stakes winner Happy Gilmour – Smooth Sailing (Mal.), including winning the Listed Penang Sprint Trophy.