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Justin Evans: season starts with Winter Cup shock at Riccarton
Trackside • August 3rd, 2026 1:37 pm
The new Thoroughbred racing season opened in fine fashion on Saturday, a date that also marks the official birthday for all thoroughbreds across the country.
As Justin Evans summed it up on Sport Nation: “August 1st is always the first day of the season, but it's the sport that never sleeps, so one season just rolls into another.”
At Riccarton Park on Saturday, the headline act was Quintabelle, who caused a major boilover in the 129th edition of the Gr.3 Winter Cup.
Sent out at around $27, the mare delivered a memorable victory for local trainer Anna Furlong, who claimed the biggest win of her solo training career.
Evans was full of praise for Furlong’s achievement, saying: “This is her biggest win, so a real thrill.”
The win was also a milestone moment for apprentice jockey Toni Davies, who produced a composed ride to secure the biggest success of her career aboard the mare.
It was a popular result for the stable and the mare’s large ownership group, while favourite Bradman again had to settle for second in the Winter Cup. It’s his third runner-up finish in the race and Evans joked he may have to delay his retirement plans to run again in 2027.
Earlier on the Riccarton card, Lord Spencer underlined his class with a commanding victory in the Koral Steeplechase. Trained by J J Rayner and ridden by Lemmy Douglas, Lord Spencer continued his unbeaten run over the bigger fences and now shapes as a major player heading toward the Grand National Steeplechase this coming Saturday.
Further north at Ruakākā, She’s No Saint impressed with a strong win for local trainer Michelle Bradley and jockey George Rooke. The filly overcame a wide draw, storming down the centre of the track to score.
She will now head toward the Northland Breeders Stakes in two weeks’ time, with Evans declaring: “The way she won, she's going to take a lot of beating in two weeks time.”
Listen to the full interview as Justin Evans catches up with Scotty Stevenson and Israel Dagg on Sport Nation
