McKay doubles up as Joey hangs on grimly

Photo: Dominion Post

So close: Joey Massino (blue hood) wins the Wellington Stakes.

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PETER MCKAY reckons two out of three ain't bad.

The Matamata trainer won the Wellington Stakes for the second time in three years when Joey Massino held on in a blanket finish to at Trentham yesterday.

Joey Massino's triumph almost replicated McKay's 2008 victory with Alamosa.

Both horses were O'Reilly colts and raced by McKay and his wife, Kim, in partnership with Christchurch owner Trevor Luke. Joey Massino is now unbeaten from four starts at 1600m and there is a chance he will back up in the $200,000 Karaka Trophy (1600m) at Ellerslie next weekend.

His first 1600m win came in the listed Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie as a two-year-old and he also won the Group II Avondale Guineas (1600m) last month.

He always been a quality galloper and ran fourth in the Group I Manawatu Sires' Produce (1400m) last term.

He could finish only fifth when tried over a middle distance in the Great Northern Guineas (2100m) on Boxing Day, but not everything went his way, and McKay has not counted out a tilt at the New Zealand Derby.

Joey Massino settled second yesterday and fought bravely after leading early in the straight. "I thought he was beaten 100m out but, gosh, he's tough," rider Sam Spratt said.

Handsome Ransom was a nose away in second place and third placegetter November Rain, who came from last, was half a head further back.

Rider Mark Du Plessis completed a winning treble for the day when class act Red Ruler justified his short odds in the $70,000 Trentham Stakes (2100m).

Du Plessis settled Red Ruler on the pace and the City Of Auckland Cup winner won comfortably in a performance that should cement his favouritism for next weekend's Wellington Cup (2400m).

"There's still quite a bit of improvement in him," Du Plessis said.

Hastings trainer John Bary recorded his first group win when Jimmy Choux turned the tables on Cellarmaster in the $85,000 Wakefield Challenge Stakes. Jimmy Choux had been the runner-up to Cellarmaster in a listed race at Te Rapa at his previous start.

The pair have now met three times, with Jimmy Choux winning twice.

Bary, a former professional polo player, is in his second season as a public trainer.

He was in the limelight in the spring with talented three-year-old The Hombre and Jimmy Choux has now had three wins and two seconds from his five starts.

"It's my third crack at a group race and I'm thrilled to win one," Bary, 40, said.

Jimmy Choux is raced by his Hawke's Bay breeder Richard Wood, who also raced the top galloper Count Chivas.

Jimmy Choux and Cellarmaster shared the pace and drew away in the straight, with a long neck separating the pair at the post.

Meanwhile, Barinka, winner of the Anniversary Handicap yesterday, will bypass next weekend's Thorndon Mile.

- © Fairfax NZ News