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Colgan gets early double at Riccarton
Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING NZ News desk • August 30th, 2025 4:00 pm
Ka Ying Lucky winning Saturday's Christchurch Casino 30th SI Awards Open (1000m) at Riccarton | Photo: Ajay Berry (Race Images South)
Jockey Vinnie Colgan displayed all the skills that have seen him sit in the elite echelon of New Zealand riders throughout his career as he put together a winning double with two superbly judged efforts in the early races on the Riccarton card on Saturday.
Colgan was at his patient best as he guided Gr.1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas aspirant Belle Du Monde to her maiden victory in race three on the programme before making it two wins in a row as he showed his strength in a tight finish to throw Ka Ying Lucky across the line to capture the major spoils in the Christchurch Casino 30th SI Awards 12 September Open (1000m)
The Suzy Gordon-trained Ka Ying Lucky has only finished out of the placings once during his seven starts in the south during the winter for the Foxton-based Gordon, with Saturday’s success making it three wins for the Zoustar seven-year-old in those seven runs.
In a slowly run contest, Colgan had Ka Ying Lucky trucking along nicely in third most of the way before angling clear and pushing the go button at the 350m.
Ka Ying Lucky responded bravely to hit the front however he looked to be in danger of being swamped by eventual runner-up Third Decree who was finishing solidly on the outer before Colgan got to work and lifted his mount across the line to secure a half-neck victory.
Gordon was thrilled to see her charge back winning after finishing sixth on a testing Heavy 10 surface at Riccarton at his most recent run.
“He is not a horse who likes it really deep and I think that was what tripped him up last time,” Gordon said.
“I actually took him home to Foxton but when I saw this 1000m race, which is a distance he excels at, I decided to send him back.
“It was a lovely ride by Vinnie and I think although the margin wasn’t that great he (Ka Ying Lucky) was just watching the other horse over the last 100m and doing enough to keep it at bay.
“I’m not sure what to do next with him as I was going to keep him down here for a race in a fortnight, but he did so well when he came home before going back for this one that might be the way to go with him.”
Sold to Hong Kong after winning an 800m Rotorua trial in 2021, Ka Ying Lucky returned to New Zealand after one unplaced run there, winning once for the stable of Ben and Ryan Foote before joining Gordon after being purchased by part-owner Pauline McGuigan for $10,500 off gavelhouse.com.
He has now won five of his 32 starts and over $120,000 in prizemoney. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
