The Suleiman returns

Te Awamutu trainer Robert Priscott will give prominent harness racing owners John Green and Tony Garelja the opportunity to win further Group spoils with a horse named The Suleiman.

Green trained and co-owned pacer The Suleiman, who won the Gr II Noel Taylor Mile in New Zealand before he was exported to Australia for the vast majority of his 65 wins from 292 starts, including the 1996 Tasmanian Pacing Championships.

Thoroughbred The Suleiman registered his maiden win in the $10,000 Keith Haub Te Rapa Rugby 2000 at Te Rapa on Saturday to confirm a start in the Gr II $85,000 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on February 20.

Ridden by Michael Walker, the win came at the King's Chapel gelding's fifth start.

''He's still in the Derby so we'll see. He's a King's Chapel out of a Volksraad mare but he wants to be a stayer,'' Priscott said.

Green had further success on Saturday night when he produced Courage To Rule to win the Gr I A$200,000 Victoria Derby at Moonee Valley.

- © Fairfax NZ News