Racing: Satisfying first season
Racing: Satisfying first season
No Choice
Andrew Carston can take satisfaction with his achievements in his first season in charge of the Riccarton stable of Jon Sargent. The stable won the $45,000 listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes for 3yr-old fillies at Wingatui on Saturday with No Choice.
The stable won the Canterbury Belle Stakes, the first race in the Southern Filly of the Year series, with Princess Emmy.
The two fillies share the lead in the four-race series.
The Riccarton stable has contributed 16 wins for Sargent’s tally of 50 this season.
Carston was instrumental in the lease of No Choice in December after the filly had recorded a fourth from three starts from the Cambridge stable of Murray and Bjorn Baker.
He was offered the filly by Christchurch agent Roddy Fulton on behalf of Singapore breeder Akhtar Mann.
Carston now races No Choice with Gerard Brown and Lance Mitchell of Christchurch and Graeme Laing and Tim Rodger of Matamata.
“I liked her because she was by Coats Choice,” Carston said.
Coats Choice is making his mark with his oldest progeny 3yr-olds.
The son of Redoute’s Choice is also the sire of Milo (Dunedin and Gore Guineas) and Five Coats, who ran third to No Choice on Saturday. No Choice is the seventh foal of Winkum, an unraced mare by Waikiki Star.
No Choice came from the rear of the 16-horse field at the 400m to win by a length and a-half over the 1400m in the hands of Jamie Bullard.
