Lisa Allpress gained a double dose of satisfaction at Awapuni on Friday when she reined Endure to the first black type success of her career.
Not only did the Wanganui-based jockey win the Gr.3 Swap Stockfoods Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes for her old boss Kevin Gray, she also made up for her questionable ride on the mare on the course last Saturday.
Placed in Rating 75 company up to a mile in each of her last five starts, Endure relished the step up to 2000 metres to bridge the gap to stakes company and lower the colours of the better-performed Thee Auld Floozie.
“She’s been a bit luckless in her last few starts and it played our way today,” Allpress said. “What she may lack in class she makes up for in heart.”As the field fanned out across the track at the top of the straight, both Endure and Thee Auld Floozie were unable to angle wide and were forced to make their runs on the inner with the former ultimately finishing too well for the warm favourite.
“I’m very, very pleased as this mare has been knocking on the door for a while,” Gray said.“It’s a great thrill and the owners are all farmers and they’ve been very loyal to me. It’s not easy to get good owners, especially down this way.
“They will definitely breed from this mare later and I’ll pick out a proven horse for her.”In the meantime, Gray will consider a start in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes on April 30 if track conditions are likely to suit Endure.
“She likes the cut out of the ground – she’s a Keeper and they handle it well,” he said.
