Record-beating effort by Omaha Beach

Omaka Beach won in track record time from stablemate I'm A Star in the PGG Wrightson AON Insurance Brokers Pace at Gore yesterday.

I'm A Star ran a courageous second after starting off the back mark of 20m in the 2200m event. Roxburgh trainer Geoff Knight thought Omaha Beach was his best chance, with I'm A Star facing a difficult task off her handicap.

Five-year-old Omaha Beach covered the 2200m (stand) in 2:46, the leaders' final 800m in 57.9 and 400m in 28.7.

Franco Novella held the previous track record at 2:47.8, set in March 2003.

I'm A Star will probably race at Winton on September 19. Omaha Beach might bypass that meeting.

The New Zealand Cup carnival at Addington in November could be on Omaha Beach's agenda.

"The syndicate that race Omaha would like to have a horse at the Cup meeting," Knight, of Roxburgh, said.

Mapenzi continued her fine form to win the Sgt Dan Stockfood Ltd Pace yesterday.

As with her success at Ascot Park a week earlier, she received a nice run before sprinting hard on the home turn.

- © Fairfax NZ News