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Sport Nation
Mayor Norwood proves superior in Riverton Cup
Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING NZ News desk • April 19th, 2025 6:55 pm
Photo: Monica Toretto
Consistent sayer Mayor Of Norwood continued a run of hot form when he took full advantage of a rails hugging ride by apprentice Donovan Cooper to take out the feature event at Riverton on Saturday, the Kennedy Building Riverton Cup (2170m)
Cooper only secured the mount on the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained six-year-old after regular pilot Corey Campbell broke his foot late in the week, but produced an absolute gem as he never went around a horse throughout the race to secure victory
The winner of the Waikouaiti Cup (2200m) four starts back, the son of Ghibellines was rock hard fit for his assignment on a testing Heavy 8 surface that had favoured horses staying closer to the inside rail throughout the day.
Allowed to settle in behind pacemakers Taimate Diva and Complicate, Cooper bided his time on his mount before starting his closing push with 300m to run. Mayor Of Norwood dashed through and quickly put a winning break on his rivals as he ran out a comfortable four length winner at the finish.
Brian Anderton was at home watching all the action in the comfort of his living room and was chuffed with the performance of his charge.
“He can be a tricky horse to ride and a lot of jockeys have got back on him, but young Donovan got him away nicely and had him the perfect spot all the way,” Anderton said.
“He had him nice and handy, stayed hard on the rail and the horse found a tremendous turn of foot just when he needed it.
“It was a ten out of ten ride and I’m thrilled for Donovan and for the owner of the horse, Janice Smith, as she is a wonderful person and took over the horses with the very untimely death of her husband Pat.
“I rang her when we knew Corey (Campbell) couldn’t take the mount and she just said go ahead and put Donovan on and run the horse if you think you should.
“He (Mayor Of Norwood) hasn’t had a lot of luck lately but he definitely made amends today.
“He is not really a heavy track horse so we might have a look at going to Brisbane with him if the travel works out, but we won’t be doing that without speaking with Mrs Smith and getting her approval first.”
Raced by the estate of his breeder, the late Patrick Smith, Mayor Of Norwood is out of the useful race mare Gallant Babe and is the younger brother of his stakes placed stablemate Capo Dell Impero.
He has now won six of his 30 starts and $218,750 in prizemoney.
