Owner's Riverton Cup win, 55 years in the making
"It's one of the greatest places to come to, it's as good as Cup Week [in Christchurch]."
Jamie Searle is a long-time racing writer. For more of his content check out the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page.
Riverton Cup-winning owner Willy Calder has been a racegoer at the seaside track for more than 50 years.
He and wife Karen enjoyed a massive thrill on Saturday winning the Carriers Arms Hotel-sponsored Riverton Cup with Asathought.
"Bloody oath [it's a great thrill]," Willy said.
"We always like to have a horse [racing] at Riverton ... I've won a couple of races here, been second a lot of times.
"My mother raced horses here with my grandfather."
Willy and Karen look forward to the Riverton Easter races every year.
"I've been coming here for 55 years," Willy said.
"It's one of the greatest places to come to, it's as good as Cup Week [in Christchurch]."
The conditioning skills of Asathought's Invercargill trainer, Lisa Vaughan, were highlighted on Saturday, as the mare went into the Cup not having raced for two and a half months.
Asathought's previous start was in the Wellington Cup on January 28. She was to have raced in the Invercargill Cup on February 18 but became a scratching when injuring her neck the night before or in the early hours of race day.
"She's got soft feet and she's a handful," Willy said of Asathought.
"Lisa's looking after the feet all the time."
Asathought finished second in the Riverton Cup last year. Five days later she was runner-up in the Canterbury Gold Cup.
The same race plan is being used this year. She will head north to contest the Group III $100,000 Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton on April 22.Â
Asathought was one of three winners for Wingatui jockey Corey Campbell on Saturday, the horseman also scoring on Inflamed and Kid Roc. They won the last three races.
The second day of the Riverton Racing Club's Easter meeting is on Monday, with the first race at 11.07am.
