Photo: Ajay Berry (Race Images South)
Runners from the Central Districts of the North Island dominated proceedings in Saturday’s 128th running of the Grp.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) as veteran galloper Chase (Zed) produced a resolute finish on the inner to claim victory ahead of lightweight Who Knows, 2024 runner-up Bradman and Our Jumala.
The nine-year-old son of Zed brought winning form to his hit and run raid on the Cup after scoring over the same distance at his last start at Hawera. Despite the presence of leading South Island rider Tina Comignaghi in the saddle he was still allowed to start at the generous quote of $16 on the Fixed Odds market in an even line-up.
Having her second ride on Chase after finishing third in the 2022 Gr.1 Captain Cook Sakes (1600m) at Trentham, Comignaghi soon had him settled beautifully in midfield from barrier five as Bradman set a strong pace in front.
Bradman looked to have his rivals in trouble when he cornered two lengths in front but began to wander to the middle of the track as Our Jumala and Who Knows challenged him on his outer, whilst Chase dived at him along the inner.
Chase forged to the lead with 50m to go to provide trainer Stephen Nickalls, his partner Laura and her father, former All Black Gary Knight, with the upset victory.
The first black-type event of the new racing season has often produced a fairytale finish and none more so than in 2025 as ten-year-old Mya Nickalls led her family’s pride and joy back to the winner’s enclosure much to the delight of her emotional father.
“I’m in tears as this is amazing,” Nickalls said.
“My little daughter is here and this just doesn’t get any better. Honestly it is just phenomenal seeing her lead him in, it is so amazing.
“This horse is the gift from God. We came down on Wednesday and went out to the beach then Mya got to hop on and ride him back from the beach, so it was incredible and I’m lost for words.”
Nickalls also quickly paid tribute to his extended family as his partner and her parents were back at their dairy farm handling all the myriad of tasks during the busy calving season.
“We are a tight family unit with Laura, Gary and Emma at home doing all the hard work so I can bring Mya and the horse down here.
“I said to her school principal that you won’t get a better life experience than coming to Riccarton.
“We love this track and would race here every week if we could.”
When questioned over backing the horse up on the final day of the Carnival next Saturday, Nickalls was non-committal as he, Mya and Chase have a booking on the Interisland ferry to take them all back home to Rangiotu on Sunday.
Comignaghi also expressed her pride and delight in taking out the early season feature.
“This is super exciting as I have always wanted to win this race,” she said.
“It’s great for Stephen and his family as they do a super job and it is nice to see them so happy.
“I knew the horse having ridden him before so I knew he would finish on well.
“We just pushed through the whole race and he eventually started to come home strongly. When the leader began to hang out he just surged through.”
Chase was a $9000 purchase for Laura Knight from the Grangewilliam Stud 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale and has now repaid her faith to the tune of more than $413,000 in prizemoney from his eight wins and 21 placings from 58 starts.
