Back-to-Back Gold Cups for Inferno

White Robe Lodge owners Brian & Lorraine Anderton capped off a highly successful day at Riccarton on Saturday with Inferno (NZ) claiming successive victories in the $100,000 Group 3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m).

A six-year-old mare, Inferno (Yamanin Vital x Emerald Fire) has not won since her victory in the Gold Cup over a year ago. Ridden by Shankar Muniandy in Saturday's race, the mare made her way back to the winners' circle after coming from third last at the top of the straight to win by a length.

The daughter of Yamanin Vital has put in some bold performances this season including a third placing to Options in the Listed Trac Stakes (2000m) at Matamata in February, and running fifth in the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie behind smart Karaka graduate Scarlett Lady.

The victory capped off a big weekend for all connections. Inferno's trainers Brian & Shane Anderton, and breeders/owners Brian & Lorraine Anderton, also saw Ortem Fire claim New Zealand Bloodstock's Southern Filly of the Year Series at the same meeting.

Inferno was offered by White Robe Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2007 South Island Sale of Two-Year-Olds and her record now stands at 38 starts for nine wins and 10 placings for over $225,000 in stakes.

The mare's victory brought up the second stakes win for White Robe Lodge stallions in a week as the stud stood the late Yamanin Vital (Sir Tristram) who sired 10 stakes winners during his career including Group 1 winners Herculian Prince, Cluden Creek and Cut The Cake.

Running second was the Mel & Warwick Coles trained Windwhistle (Traditionally x Ultra Vires) who hit the lead 200 metres from home before being run down. Purchased by Warwick Coles from South Syndicate at the 2008 South Island Sale of Two-Year-Olds for $1,600, the gelding provided the quinella for South Island Sale graduates.