Hasselhoof’s reputation as New Zealand racing’s next big thing has been enhanced after a dominant display to win the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie on Friday.
Known by his fans as “The Hoof”, the four year old son of Tavistock stretched his unbeaten winning sequence to six with ease for trainers Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs.
Hasselhoof began well and was always prominent in the run for jockey Matthew Cameron.
Making his move to challenge for the lead approaching the home turn, Hasselhoof showed great acceleration and then fight to hold off his challenges.
Despite not looking comfortable on the Slow 7 ground, Hasselhoof scored by 2.3 lengths from Consensus, with Irion a further neck away in third.
He ran the mile in 1.36.77.
Hasselhoof will eventually make his way to Australia, with Sydney’s autumn carnival features during The Championships on the radar.
The feature race on the program was the Group 1 Railway Stakes over 1200m and victory went to the John Morell-trained Ryan Mark with Opie Bosson aboard.
The five-year-old son of Thorn Park proved too strong for race leader Allez Eagle, narrowly overhauling him in the shadows of the post, with Natuzzi in third.
Rangipo, a son of Victorian-based stallion Stryker, took out the Group 2 Great Northan Guineas over 1600m for trainer Tony Pike and jockey Vinnie Colgan.
Classy filly Sofia Rose won the Group 2 Mongolian Khan Royal Stakes over 2000m for trainer Stephen Marsh and jockey Danielle Johnson.