THOROUGHBRED

The Group 1 Stella Artois Auckland Cup was taken out by the talented Kevin Myers trained TITCH at Ellerslie on Wednesday.

He jumped to an early lead and was settled three back on the rail and put to sleep by rider Opie Bosson. Traveling beautifully at the 600 meter he was was hooked off the heals of the leaders on the home turn and hit the front, he was to tough for them in the straight and went on to win by 1 3/4 lengths, SHOWCAUSE loomed up at the 200 meter and fought well for second, CASTEL HEIGHTS was a long neck away in third.

TITCH is a 6 year old gelding by LORD BALLINA - OUR SOPHIE he was bred and is raced by Jim Wallace senior. It was a great day for the Wallace family with it's dynasty of racing identities.

Opie Bosson, " Couldn't have asked for a better run than what we got, he didn't pull he just lobbed along off the bit and when I wanted him to quicken he just did everything I asked of him." when asked what can we say about trainer Kevin Myers. " He's a freak of a trainer and when you're on one of his horses you know they are ready to win, it's a privilege to ride for him."

TITCH is a horse of many talents. In earlier preparations he was inclined to hold his breath so was given some jumping to try and settle him. This seems to have worked the oracle as he proved to be a very good hurdler, a stint in Australian saw him win three hurdle races in succession. He then returned to New Zealand and after a couple of lead up races he ran second to Showcause in the New Zealand Cup.