An early Christmas - Tinseltown wins NZ Gr.2

Classy stayer Tinseltown was back to his best on Saturday, recording an easy victory in the Gr.2 Counties Cup at Pukekohe Park.

Having only his third run back from a spell - last seen in Australia running fifth in the Queensland Cup in July - the seven-year-old was always travelling well in the 2100m contest.

Taking the lead at the 120m, Tinseltown shot clear over the final stages, taking his consistently tally to eight wins with over $470,000 in stakes.

“This race was always our goal third up,” Andrew Clarken said, “his work had been enormous going into this and it was a beautiful ride by Craig Grylls.”

“We will probably go to the Waikato Cup now,” he continued, adding that a crack at a two miler might be on the cards – “I just don’t know whether he’ll get the trip. Any starts he’s had at 3200m he hasn’t quite run them out but he’s another preparation older.”

Conceding the placegetters weight – carrying the steadier of 57kg to victory, Tinseltown did a good job – “he is not a big horse,” Clarken said, “but he’s a tough horse.”

Watch Tinseltown's win:

Meanwhile closer to home the lightly raced and talented Takeonefortheteam recorded a particularly game win at Mornington on Saturday – finding the line in determined style after enduring a tough run in transit.

Not able to get across early from an outside gate, the four-year-old was trapped wide, rider Dale Smith forced to make an early run from the 700m.

But still he could not get in – not the ideal run for an odds on favourite with second topweight.

But class prevailed, the gelding getting to the lead at the 150m and quickly putting ground on his rivals – runner-up Corinella making a late charge but to no avail.

Recording the second win from his six start career, Takeonefortheteam has always been well regarded by the stable and as a more mature horse this time in he looks ready to progress through the classes.

A $32,000 Inglis Classic Sale purchase for Paul Moroney, Takeonefortheteam is raced in the purple and white colours of the GG Syndicate (manager Gerard Peterson). He is by Danehill’s VRC Derby winning son Arena out of the winning Mister C mare Gold Cachet, full sister to the stakes winners Easy Landing and Misty Dawn.

Other black type winners from this family include El Cuento, Jolanda, Rock Of Cashel, Speed Week, Southbend and the influential stallion Kaoru Star.