The well-endowed Rotorua Cup (Gr 3) is fast becoming Cloughmore’s favourite event on the New Zealand racing calendar. Following earlier successes by All In Fun (1998) and Bodie (2002), Tinseltown today scored a courageous win in this year’s renewal.
Cleverly ridden by Craig Grylls, the Pentire gelding was too strong in the final stages of the 2200 metre contest and his victory certainly franked the form he showed in winning the Avondale Cup (Gr 2) last December. His chances of winning at Group 1 level had subsequently been hampered by the muddling pace set in both the Auckland and Wellington Cups and today looked very much a case of deja vu with the moderate tempo appearing to disadvantage him. In spite of this he managed to accelerate when it mattered and he fought on to narrowly defeat the equally brave I’m Isaac. The latter’s paternal half-brother Ginga Dude ran on strongly from well back to claim third place, with the favourite All In Black – another Cloughmore product – also covering much extra ground to earn fourth money.
Tinseltown’s breeding is covered in an earlier article posted on this site and, given the circumstances of today’s win, we are hopeful that he has the potential to continue his success at Group level.
