Clearing Maidens – Kiwi Ingenuity and Tact Lizzie leave powerful maiden winners

In our weekly Clearing Maidens article we look through those breaking through for their first victories.

It could be a long-time maiden who has finally mastered race rivals or a progressive star of the track in the future – they all got one thing in common now – they’re race winners!

Invercargill 3^rd June

Summit Ultra (Stunnin Cullen – Cracka Speight) A rare win for the sire Stunnin Cullen, Summit Ultra proved too tough for race rivals in the 2^nd of the day out of Invercargill, seeing off stablemate Scott and Buckie Dundee to claim a maiden win. The win coming up in a time of 2.48.8 over the 2200m mobile event. The win giving Blair Orange his second victory of the day – a day that would see the driver claim 5 of the 10 events.

Moonlight Angel (One Over Da Moon – Bell Of The Night) Getting it done after an extended period of limited results, the J Cox trained and driven 6yr-old mare impressed when taking out the 4^th of the day, besting race favourite Stella Bay by a length margin. The mare had originally been under the Clementson stable but a trip to Invercargill in early Winter obviously agreeing with the now race winner.

She’s A Jewel (Sweet Lou – Ballroom Jewel) Delivering as favourite, She’s A Jewel made the punters happy when scoring in race 5 on the card. The Williamson trained and driven runner seeing off Havarti Arden and Magnetic Daughter to score front the front of race with all the fighting qualities having to be called upon to starve off the challenges over the concluding stages.  She’s A Jewel is the first winner out of dam Ballroom Jewel with the wide family including plenty of quality – Bold Cruiser (Live Or Die), the Tasmania Cup and Kilmore Cup winner of 2008, and the flying Badlands Jewel (Badlands Hanover) the Nevele R Fillies Series Final winner in the same year, are both out of the grandam Holmes Dream (Holmes Hanover)

She’s A Jewel secures a notable maiden win

Alexandra Park 6^th June

Stone Cold (Wishing Stone – Dark ops) Stone Cold warmed up at Alexandra Park on Thursday night, the Jason Teaz trained runner continuing a strong run of form for the stable with a confident 2 1/2 length victory in the 3^rd of the night.  The win seemed almost effortless with driver Peter Ferguson dictating from the front and Stone Cold doing the rest in a canter down to the line. Stone Cold had previously placed on two occasions, hence the favouritism for the event. Dam Dark Ops (CR Commando) won two during her career with her first foal being the successful Night Watch (6 wins)  

Stone Cold extends to a sound maiden victory.

Matai Phil (Washington VC – Matai Katie) Some smart sectionals and a impressive debut winner. Matai Phil showed he’s got a future in front of him with a stunning debut win in the 4th of the night out of Alexandra Park – the final sectionals of 55.7 and 27.4 suggesting there’s no lack of speed surrounding the son of Washington VC. While the overall time was sedate, a leisurely 2.47.7 over the 2200m mobile trip, the result was in little doubt with Zachary Butcher willing the 3yr-old on over the final furlong. The win brings up another win for the celebrated sire in Washington VC. The wider family includes the performers Matai Geordie (7 wins) and the 1.50 pacer in Matai Louis, also by Washington VC.

Invercargill 7^th  June

Dragon Power (Fear The Dragon – Shipshewana Flight) Bringing a bit of firing breathing to the Invercargill track on Friday, Dragon Power, trained by Murray Brown, proved too strong for race rivals in the first on the card. A mid-race sit throughout the running meant Dragon Power had a licence to fly over the final furlong, snaring the top with some 100m to run and lasting to score by a little under a length. The win coming up at race start #7.

Strike It Lucky (Lucky Chucky – Hazel Alice) Improving on from a first-up 4^th on the 3^rd of June, Strike It Lucky was driven patiently by Wilson House in the second of the day, making a move from the 3 pegs position out into the 1/1 with a little under a lap to go in the 2200m event, from there the son of Lucky Chucky produced a strong last furlong to claim what looks like an easy win in 2.59. The House trained runner is well bred, dam Hazel Alice won 3 races from some 31 starts while grandam Strike Account (Gee Whiz II) won 6 in the late 1990’s, the best of her progeny arguably being the 6 time winner in Joe Boy (Sundon), winner of the NZ Yearling Sales Trot of 2004 when beating out Hurricane Flyer and Apache Blue Jean.

Strike It Lucky has the breeding to go on with things

Havarti Arden  (Betterthancheddar – Ardensplace) A consistent type over past weeks Havarti Arden proved too tough after a mid-race move to the lead in the last at Invercargill, the slushy conditions no hindrance as the Nicole Aitken trained runner brought up her maiden victory at race start #6. The win means Aitken is now a race winning trainer also – a memorable feat. Havarti Arden is out of the unraced mare in Ardensplace, the mare leaving the 8-time winner in Tempo Warrior in 2018.

Addington 7^th June

Prohibited Bid (Volstead – Piri Piri) Doing enough from a trailingposition throughout the running of the 1^st out of Addington, Prohibited Bid just did enough to deny the flying John Spartan and a brave Imperial Command, bringing up her maiden victory at start number 5. The previous formline had suggested the filly was on her way towards the victory with 3 minor placings being posted in her first 5 race day starts. Prohibited Bid is the second winner out of Piri Piri (Majestic Son), the first being Wudabubbit (Used To Me)

Tact Teena (Bettor’s Delight – Tact Lizzie) After finding the line strongly behind Shakira and Wild Irish Rose Tact Teena put together a strong last 400m to win the 2^nd of the night comfortably at Addington. One of the better bred maiden winners of the week, Tact Teena is out of the star mare Tact Lizzie, a mare who won 10 races including the NZ Breeders Stakes of 2010 when beating Crystal Star and Telemecanique.  As a mother Tact Lizzie has continued her success, leaving the likes of Tact Maggie (Lis Mara) a 12-time winner, and the impressive Tact Tate (McArdle) winner of the Gr1 Bohemia Crystal of 2017 when victorious over Have Faith In Me and Major Crocker.

Tact Teena shows good speed to win at Addington

Kotare Kelso (Always B Miki – Kotare Yassi) Kotare Kelso, finding the line recently behind both Radha and Clonakilty, found that turn of foot once again at Addington on Friday night, swooping from a running line sit to pass Captain Kobe and favourite Bad Habits in the run to the line, bringing up his maiden win in a smart display of pacing. The win extends a good recent run for his sire Always B Miki while the dam involved here, Kotare Yassi, extends her returns as a mother to two individual winners from her three foals, the first being the 1-win Kotare Costa, a colt by Changeover.

Addington 9^th June

My Royal Break (Royal Aspirations – Break out) Yet another winner by sire Royal Aspirations, My Royal Break made no breaks at Addington, setting a pace very few could stick with to maintain a healthy margin throughout the run home and score in the 2^nd of the afternoon. The win coming after a early gallop when last produced at Ashburton although the previous form had been solid. My Royal Break is out of the 5-win mare in Break Out – she’s also the her first winner.

Auntie Deb (Sky Major – Queen Of Glory) Hitting the line in recent runs, Auntie Deb put that record on repeat to score a brave win in the third of the day out of Addington. The last furlong grind suiting the son of Sky Major as she he caught the race favourite Woodlea Diamond in the run to the line. Dam Queen Of Glory won no less than 8 races with Auntie Deb becoming her first winner as a broodmare

Auntie Deb overcomes leading types to snare a well-deserved maiden win

Keeping It Kiwi (Art Major – Kiwi Ingenuity) The punters forgot to look at the racebook for the breeding of this son of Art Major. Out of a top-class mare, Keeping It Kiwi, showed plenty of ability when taking out the 7^th of the card, fighting to the line in a race of change to snare the win at start #3, the win coming after a 4^th and 7^th in his two race days starts prior. Dam Kiwi Ingenuity was a star of the track winning over half a million dollars while she’s also shown an ability to leave a winner, the 10-time winner Kiwis Are Flying and the 6-time winner Team Kiwi being just two of the notable performers she’s mothered.

Cheer Me On (He’s Watching – Maravu Express) Finding the trail and using it to good effect, Cheer Me On had connections cheering it on no doubt when winning the 9^th of the afternoon. A 2.28.4 time enough to see off the race favourite in My Skatjie. The win coming up at race start #9.

By Harnesslink Media