Robinson Dominates Great Easter

Saturday’s $60,000 Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m) produced a dream result for local trainer Lance Robinson, who finished first and second with his New Zealand Bloodstock graduates Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines) and Khimar War (NZ) (Sweet Orange). 

Live Drama was bought for only $8,500 from the 2018 South Island Sale, and she has now earned $172,240 in a career spanning 22 starts, seven wins and six placings. Runner-up Khimar War cost $30,000 at the 2017 Select Sale and has had 39 starts for six wins, 15 placings and $153,997.

The Great Easter Stakes was a deserved first black-type success for the White Robe Lodge-bred Live Drama, who had previously placed in the Group Three Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) and the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m), Gore Guineas (1335m) and Timaru Stakes (1400m).

Saturday was finally her day, capitalising on a ground-saving inside run from jockey Kavish Chowdhoory to cut the corner at the home turn and sneak through with a brilliant burst along the rail.

Khimar War and Scarfi (NZ) (Makfi) chased hard down the Riccarton straight, but Live Drama kept lifting and held them out comfortably by a length and three-quarters.

“I really thought both horses were very big chances, although I did lean a little towards Live Drama – I think she may just have a touch more class than Khimar War,” Robinson told NZ Racing Desk.

“In the end, she really showed her class after a top ride by Kavish. He took the initiative to track up along the fence when they were all going wide, and when she got to the front, she ran away.

“I was trying to watch them both, but ended up on Khimar War to see if he could get second, as I knew Live Drama had it won with 200 metres to run.

“It is just a fantastic result for us and very satisfying.

“Live Drama has been up since November, so she deserves a break now. She has done a great job for us, and while she is out, I can sit down with her owners and put a plan together for next season.

“I’d like to set Khimar War for a couple of $30,000 races that are coming up on the synthetic track. He is a gross type who can get away from you when he is spelling, so he will get a break at some stage, but not for too long – we want to keep the weight off him as much as possible.”