Stella Di Paco wins 2015 J Turkington Castletown Stakes Listed NZ$50,000 at Wanganui (NZ) 2yo, 1200m.
Stella Di Paco was a surprise $45.30 winner, improving on her two unplaced starts to break her maiden in this Listed race. She was smartly away and went to the front being able to set an average mid-race tempo before striking several challengers nearing the home turn. But she responded well and kept fighting back to score a gutsy win.
Miss Fi was a handy fourth before moving up strongly coming to the home turn to challenge at the 200m. She then kept battling on well for a sound second, just finding the winner a bit too strong.
Massa Lu raced outside the leader, challenged well at the home turn, took a narrow lead shortly afterwards and then kept fighting on for a close-up third.
Mr Conductor was second last in the nine-horse field, fanned deep rounding the home turn and ran on well for a very good (0.6 lengths) fourth.
Favourite Hover missed the start, was then sixth on the rails but travelled quite keenly in stages and disappointed in the straight, tiring to finish (7.5 lengths) seventh.
