Cassini Takes Stakes Double

The six-year-old mare Cassini is racing in career best form and extended her winning record on Saturday when proving too good in the $70,000 Group 3 Hotel Coachman Manawatu Cup (2300m).

Taken straight to the front and settling just off the pace on the rail for jockey Lisa Allpress, Cassini (Reset x Mathematical) loomed up to the leading trio in the straight and, after looking like a close finish was on the cards, kicked away to win by an impressive one-and-a-quarter lengths.

Running second in the Manawatu Cup last season, the Mark Oulaghan trained Cassini has gone back-to-back in black-type races after winning the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) at her last start.

A mare who is racing in top form, she holds a nomination for the Group 2 City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on January 1 where she currently shares favouritism with Innocent Lady (Viking Ruler) at $8. She is also nominated for the Group 2 Wellington Cup on January 28.

Bred by Doug Dean, Cassini was purchased by her owner Gail Drought from Lyndhurst Farm at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2007 Karaka Premier Sale for $120,000. Now a winner of five of her 37 starts, Cassini has earned almost $200,000 in stakes.