Top notch racing for Taupō’s first listed race

The biggest race at Taupō Racing Club didn’t disappoint on Sunday with a dramatic, come-from-behind win in the listed $100,000 Chittick Family Fillies Classic. 

By Dan Hutchinson 

It may have been snowing on the nearby mountains, with a chilly wind whipping across the course, but that didn’t deter hundreds of punters keen to see Taupō’s richest race unfold. 

Hawea, a three-year-old thoroughbred filly trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall of Richardson Racing Stables and ridden by Wiremu Pinn was running in last place around the final bend before a blistering run down the home saw it take the win by one length. 

It was a strong day overall for the club, with solid crowds filling the members' area and thoroughbred breeders' section, even if the August cold kept some of the general public at home. 

“You could feel it was snow in the air," says Taupō Racing Club president Terry Campbell. 

He says the racing community's response has been overwhelmingly positive.  

"We got lots of praise with so many letters and congratulations." 

Both the members' area and the thoroughbred breeders' section were clear highlights, drawing capacity crowds throughout the day.  

"The members' area was packed and the thoroughbred breeders' area was absolutely jam-packed," Terry says. 

The club has qualified to host the listed race annually, subject to maintaining the required performance standards. 

In the other big race of the day, three-year-old Fortunato won the Poverty Bay Turf Club (1100m) with  a stunning performance, winning $50,000 in the process.