Coniston on track for Guineas after Sarten victory

Coniston got his Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) campaign back on track at Te Rapa on Labour Day when claiming the Group 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) on Monday.

The son of Wootton Bassett wasn’t wanted by punters following his last placed finish over 1400m at Hastings a fortnight ago, with the market dominated by Te Akau Racing’s unbeaten colt System Of Play.

Coniston was only fair away, but jockey Joe Doyle was able to navigate his charge into a handy position three back in the running line behind last-start stakes winner Justin Case, with the Andrew Forsman-trained Lassified setting a hot tempo upfront.

Lassified and Whistlejacket continued to put the pedal to the metal and entered the home straight two lengths in advance of Justin Case, with Coniston a further three lengths off the pace. Justin Case soon loomed up alongside the leaders before hitting the lead, and Coniston began his late surge.

Cambridge Stud filly Joyeuse hugged the rail and presented as a late challenge, but Justin Case continued to rally, and Coniston only just managed to nab him in the shadow of the post to win by a head, with 1-3/4 lengths back to Joyeuse in third.

Andrew Scott, who trains Coniston in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan, said they ruled a line through his last start, and he was rapt to see him bounce back and notch his first stakes win on Monday.

“You look at the sectionals (last start), and he was the second quickest in the last 600m, and it was just a non-event. It was an expensive track gallop unfortunately,” he said.

“Today we wanted to be positive. He wasn’t brilliant away, but he recovered into a rhythm. He trained really well coming in.

“It is pleasing for the team, they put him away through the winter when we were tempted to run, and they are getting the spoils now.”

Scott believes Coniston will handle the step up to a mile in next month’s New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.

“Hopefully he cracks on down at Christchurch, he has got a good, long gallop in him and he seemed to handle the Good ground here today,” he said.

“If it was a mile today, he would have run it out strong by the looks of it. He will only improve with a good hit-out today. It is the first time he has hit top gear and made to do it and bite his bottom lip and keep going. There should be a good bit of improvement out of today.”