Respected trainer Kevin Myers completed a winning treble at Riccarton on Saturday with a dominant performance by Aljay (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) in the Listed Sothys Spring Classic (2000m).
Myers sent six horses south from his Wanganui base for Saturday’s meeting, and he came away with victories by Just Charlie (NZ) (Zed) in the NZB Airfreight Road to Jericho (3000m), He’s Lucid in the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m), and Aljay in the Spring Classic. He also picked up placings with Kopua (NZ) (Shocking) in the TAB Mile Trial (1400m), Yolo (NZ) (Zed) in the Road to Jericho and Sheaf (NZ) (Eminent) in the Helston Associates Rating 75 (1800m).
Aljay faced a difficult task in Saturday’s Spring Classic, carrying 59kg while all of his 11 rivals had either 53kg or 53.5kg. But the Rock ‘N’ Pop gelding, who won the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at this venue two years ago, rose to the challenge and was too tough and too good.
Ridden by Jonathan Riddell, Aljay settled towards the back of the field before swooping around the outside to stake his claim at the top of the straight.
The seven-year-old powered through the testing Heavy10 ground and hit the front, but it briefly looked like he was going to face a stern challenge down the straight from Dazzling Miss (NZ) (Proisir), Fellini (NZ) (Belardo) and Lombardi (NZ) (Verdi).
Aljay saw them coming and lifted again, forging clear and opening up a two-length winning margin over Dazzling Miss (NZ) (Proisir).
From a 43-start career, Aljay has now recorded 10 wins, eight seconds and seven thirds. He has earned $523,387 in stakes for Myers, who shares ownership with Charlie Gestro. Aljay is named for Gestro’s initials, LJ.
Myers paid $39,000 to buy Aljay from Ardsley Stud’s draft at the 2019 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.
Saturday’s Spring Classic was an unexpected first ride on Aljay for Riddell.
“He’s a lovely old horse and I was lucky to get the ride on him today,” Riddell said. “I was supposed to be riding another runner, but then Kevin put this horse in and there was nothing else I could ride at the weights. So I was lucky that Kevin put me on the horse, and I appreciate that.
“Gee, he’s a tough horse. Those track conditions didn’t worry him at all. He was effectively carrying a stone more than the rest of the field, which is not easy, but he did it comfortably in the end.
“Kevin owns the horse too along with Charlie, so they’ve made a bit of money with him, the two old fellas!”
The TAB now rates Aljay a $5 chance to claim a second New Zealand Cup victory at Riccarton on November 16. He shares favouritism with last year’s runner-up Nest Egg (NZ) (Reliable Man).
