Veteran galloper Taurus showed there was still plenty of fight left in the old dog when he thrust his nose in front at just the right moment to snatch victory in the open sprint at New Plymouth on the weekend.

Fresh from a frustrating campaign at Riccarton during the recent Grand National carnival, the evergreen nine-year-old gained a deserved reward as he downed Matamata visitor Galaxy Miss with an undeniable finishing burst in the hands of rider Jonathan Riddell.

Riddell, who has been aboard the No Excuse Needed gelding for five of his 11 career victories, provided his mount with a picture-perfect run behind the pacemaking Galaxy Miss throughout the contest. Briefly snookered in the home straight, he waited for the gap one-off the fence to appear before driving Taurus to the lead at exactly the right moment to grab the win.

Co-trainer JJ Rayner, who prepares Taurus with her father Evan, admitted it was heart-in-mouth stuff as she waited for the final result to be posted.

“I was listening to the commentator and when he said he got it I just erupted,” she said.

“Next minute they said the judge was studying the photo and I just about had a heart attack. He is so brave and really deserved the win after being unlucky of late so when they said he finally had won I was relieved as much as I was excited.”

Rayner admitted there was confidence in the camp after the horse had returned in fine fettle from his foray to Riccarton.

“He tried his heart out down at Riccarton and didn’t get a lot of lucky with the sticky track he struck on both days.

“He travelled back extremely well and was really bright going into Saturday. We knew if he got the right run he would be in the thick of things and Jonathan made sure he put him where he needed to be to get it done.

Rayner was full of praise for Riddell’s effort and will wait to see where the now Cambridge based hoop would be riding in a fortnight before confirming the next target for her charge.

“Jonathan told me Taurus is a real favourite of his so we are keen to keep him on board wherever we start next,” she said.

“There is an option at either Ellerslie or at home at Wanganui in a fortnight so I will wait to see where Jonathan is riding before we confirm where he will start.”

If that target comes at Ellerslie Taurus will accompany stablemate Mr Mor north as the dual Wellington Steeplechase winner tackles the Irvines Great Northern Steeplechase in what will most likely be his final raceday appearance.