Riccarton-based trainer Andrew Carston didn’t have to make the long trip back from Timaru empty-handed on Sunday after the meeting that featured the running of the Dunstan Horse Feeds Waimate Cup (1600m) was abandoned due to a horse slipping in the second event on the card.

Immediately following the conclusion of the race, jockey Niranjan Parmar reported his mount had lost its footing in behind around the 1000m. After a track inspection revealed slip marks at that point on the track, which had been affected by intermittent rain during the morning, stipendiary stewards ordered an abandonment of the meeting.

It was a bittersweet decision for Carson who had 10 runners entered on the day and had already collected a victory in the first race with Tivaci gelding Lippy and followed up with Domperion running an honest race for second in the race affected by the slip.

“I never complain as safety comes first and I one hundred percent support the decision taken by officials,” Carston said.

“It was quite clear the horse slipped and while you feel for everyone concerned, no-one should be put in danger when this sort of thing happens.

“I guess the most disappointing aspect was this was likely to be the last decent track we get as winter hits.

“There is no doubt plenty of rain coming and a number of mine were looking for that better footing before we put them away until the Spring.”

One of those was Lippy who Carston believes has plenty of upside to his future racing.

“He is a nice horse who has been going good races and deserved that one,” he said.

“He doesn’t like it much wetter than what he struck so he could have one more on the Synthetic track at home before he goes to the paddock and I’m looking to him coming back even stronger for his next campaign.

“It was a close finish but he puts in during his races and he got a lovely ride from my apprentice (Yogesh Atchamah) who now leads the South Island apprentice premiership.

“Yogesh has really come on with his riding and he works hard at home, so deserves the success he gets.

“Domperion also went her usual honest race in the second. She is only a three-year-old filly so she has plenty in front of her and I think she will also make the grade as she continues to strengthen.”

Bred and owned by Waikato Stud’s Chittick family under their Chittick Investments banner, Lippy is a son of Savabeel mare Cheex. His granddam is stakes-placed mare Miracle Miss who ran fourth behind Dorabella in the 2006 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).