Racing
League
Rugby
Football
Cricket
Golf
Sport Nation
Motorsport
Netball
Basketball
Combat Sports
Olympics
Other Sports
Live sport on SN this weekendBrosnan scores quickfire double at Te Rapa
Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • August 22nd, 2026 4:59 pm
Diamond Jak winning at Te Rapa | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
The boutique stable of Matamata trainer Mark Brosnan shone early on the card at Te Rapa on Saturday with a winning double in the first three races.
Brosnan produced lightly raced four-year-old Autumn Heights to notch her maiden victory in the second event, the Noverre Mile (1600m), before venerable warhorse Diamond Jak followed up his gritty victory in the Taumarunui Gold Cup (2400m) last month with another sterling performance to claim race three, the Thank You Savabeel (2100m).
With the rail at Te Rapa back in the true position, and offering 7m of new ground to gallop on, it was expected that those handy to the speed would be favoured early on, however, both Autumn Heights and Diamond Jak defied those predictions as they both came from near last on the home corner to win.
With Masa Hashizume in the saddle, Autumn Heights improved on some handy runs of late to open her winning account by launching her finish shortly after rounding the home bend to collar Queen Sansa in the final 100m, before holding out Wedding Belle, who had made her run with the winner, at the line.
Hashizume had been keen to ride the mare closer to the pace but listened to Brosnan before the race who advised not to alter her back-running style.
“Full credit to Mark as I was thinking to ride her forward, but Mark said ‘no, she likes to come from behind’, and she gave me a super sprint up the straight,” Hashizume said.
“Any horse can win from anywhere as that is horse racing, so I wasn’t worried.”
Brosnan was pleased to see the mare get her victory after he had changed riding tactics with her of late.
“Now we have put her over ground she is starting to run more like a proper racehorse,” he said.
“Her half-sister was Supreme Heights, who was more of a front runner, so we tried it with this one and it didn’t work.
“The last couple of times we have ridden her cold and it is working out.
“On her last run we had some confidence and although she is still pretty weak, I think she can get to 2000m later on.”
By Vadamos out of Summer Heights, Autumn Heights is the younger half-sister to Brosnan’s terrific mare Supreme Heights, who won eight races, including three at stakes level while also being stakes placed on four separate occasions.
One race later Diamond Jak proved his versatility once again as he was on his best behaviour winning on a far better track (Slow6) as opposed to his effort in the Taumarunui Cup where he relished the Heavy10 surface.
Rider Sam Collett had him away on even terms from the barrier and despite lobbing along second last most of the way, the eight-year-old looked to be travelling well within himself as Collett looped the field approaching the home turn.
Despite lumping topweight of 62kgs, 8kgs more than any other runner, the son of Jakkalberry was too tough in the run to the line to hold out Rosetown Princess and Quick Fire.
“That is very satisfying and to do it with that weight on, even though it wasn’t a strong field, he did well,” Brosnan said.
“He is an eight-year-old now and although his barrier manners aren’t the greatest, he jumped away for Sam today.
“He is just a big rangy type, and not the prettiest, but has a big heart.
“He really doesn’t like on the top of the ground, although with a bit of rain around he can keep going, but if he jars up he can go out for a spell.”
Diamond Jak has now won 10 of his 46 starts and more than $437,000 in prizemoney.
