THOROUGHBRED

The Group 3 Oaks Stud Manawatu Classic was taken out by STARCHEEKA at Awapuni on Saturday.

The 2 year old gelding by STARCRAFT - BORN A STAR was taken to an early lead from the start, he put four lengths on them going down the back and had the same margin turning for home, very well rated by jockey Hayden Tinsley they couldn't get to him and he went to the line winning by 1 1/4 lengths, ENDOR fought well for second with SO DIVINE finishing well to be a long neck back in third.

STARCHEEKA is trained by Stephen McKee and is owned by Peter walker and Anthony Timpson.

He ran the 2000 meters in 2.02.19

Peter Walker, " We've had our ups and downs with the horse, he had chipped knees as a 2 year old and one thing and another, he seems to have grown another leg lately and he's settling down, he's got I feel a very high cruising speed and a lot of them think they can catch him, today you saw he just ran them off there feet. He's quite an exciting horse I think we've not seen the best of him yet, there's still more to come."