Veyron (NZ) made it look easy despite shouldering top weight in the White Bros 1600 at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The big, bold chestnut, jumped well and settled in third place.  Stand-in jockey Leith Innes gave him rein in the straight and he strode clear in a stride or two.

Veyron (6g Thorn Park – Over The Limit by Centro) has won 10 races for owners Isabel and Alistaire Barker but the Te Rapa result was his first racing left-handed.  Seven of his wins, including the G1 Easter Handicap, have been at Ellerslie.  

Ellerslie is the destination for his next assignment in the G1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day.  “I think he will get 2000 metres but that will be his limit,” trainer Linda Laing said.  “There are a lot of top races for good money around at that distance but we will take it one race at a time.  

“He will be a better horse next year.  The geldings in this family don’t really hit their straps until they are seven.”

Laing’s father Royce Dowling trained Veyron’s second-dam Limitless (Sir Tristram) to win a G1 Brisbane Cup.  Dowling also prepared her daughter Twinkling (Star Way) to Listed victories in the Cornwall Handicap and Bonecrusher Stakes.

Veyron’s sire Thorn Park was New Zealand’s Champion stallion in 2010-11.  His champion galloper Jimmy Choux was instrumental in wresting the title from fellow Windsor Park Stud sire Volksraad (Green Desert).

Thorn Park’s service fee for 2011 increased to $20,000 (plus gst).