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Live sport on SN this weekendRareza back with a vengeance at Ōtaki
Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • October 17th, 2026 5:38 pm
Rareza (Red colours) storms home to win first up at Otaki on Saturday | Photo: Race Images - Peter Rubery
Underrated mare Rareza showed just how potent she can be when she gets a run to suit as she stormed home from near last to take out the open 1200m contest at Ōtaki, the Vets on Riverbank Handicap (1200m).
The Cody Cole-prepared daughter of Exosphere finished runner-up in a fresh condition in her last campaign in the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders Stakes and went one better this time as rider Corentin Berge produced a patient ride to land the major spoils.
Berge didn’t panic as a fierce speed battle played out in the early stages saw his mare well back before he started to get her into stride approaching the home bend.
Turning the corner as the widest runner, Rareza was at least eight lengths from pacemaker Lucullan and with a stiff task to peg her back as she looked strong at the head of affairs.
Rareza got into her work with gusto, and it was evident at the 100m she had her rivals covered as she dashed past Lucullan and went on to win by an increasing long neck margin at the winning post.
“She is a good mare when she is right, as she has had her issues,” Cole said.
“The goal for today was really to see if we still had a mare who wanted to be there and try her best and I think she answered that quite emphatically.
“We did expect her to get back and that a hot speed would suit her, but Corentin rode her perfectly and I don’t even think he really pulled the stick on her.
“We haven’t looked ahead as it was an acid test today. Now we know where she is we will tick her over when there is softer ground as she can’t go on anything better than a Soft 5.
“Getting a stakes win is the goal and that may have to wait until the autumn, but it’s nice to know she still wants to get out there and compete.”
Rareza has now won five of her 18 starts for her large group of owners that include Cole’s mother Lou, who co-bred the mare, and over $133,000 in prizemoney.
Two races later class act Riverplate delivered his ninth career victory for his owners, which include trainer Andrew Campbell, courtesy of an inch-perfect ride from apprentice Toni Davies in the Fast Internet.NZ Handicap (1600m).
Davies took the evergreen eight-year-old straight to the front from barrier rise and dictated terms to her rivals.
Approaching the home bend, it was obvious the son of Flying Artie was travelling easily and when Davies asked him for the supreme effort he bounded away under the topweight of 59kgs.
Although getting weary in the final 100m, Riverplate had enough in the tank to hold out the fast-finishing Tolstoy with race favourite Ma Te Wa also running on nicely to take third in a blanket finish to the contest.
Campbell had admitted he was confident before the race after some concentrated beach work for his stable favourite and that confidence was right on the mark as Riverplate delivered in fine style.
