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 – theyāre race winners!
Alexandra Park 27thĀ June
Sugar Ray Lincoln (American Ideal – Lively Nights) An impressive winner at start #6, Sugar Ray Lincoln showed his 4th in the Cardigan Bay Stakes in May was just the start of good things, beating out race favourite Shake A Leg to snare the win in the 8th of the night out of Alexandra Park. Ā Sugar Ray Lincoln calls on magnificent breeding – his siblings include the two-time NZ Trotting Cup champion Copy That (American Ideal) and the impressive My Copy, a 7-time winner by Highview Tommy.
Sugar Ray Lincoln delivers a knock out punch at Alexandra Park
Addington 28thĀ June
Trump Card (Rock N Roll HeavenĀ – Capture My Heart) You might need a fact checker around this one. Winning his third race day start and passing maidens in fine style, Trump Card and Ā Olivia Thornley dominated the polls from the front of the race in the 1stĀ of the night out of Addington. The leisurely sectionals meaning only a sprint to the line was needed to claim the victory. The win coming off an impressive second to Magician in his most recent start. Notable performers from this damline include the 13-time winner in Bury My Heart (In The Pocket), who, in turn, became the mother of the speed merchant TexicanĀ (Bettorās Delight)
Imperial Command (Imperial CountĀ – The Gingaās Sister) Imperial Command always look capable of winning races and, on Friday night, he did. The win, when driven by Peter Davis, coming off the back of a stoic 3rd behind Prohibited Bid Ā on the 7thĀ of June. Imperial Command joins both The Fiery Spirit (Bacardi Lindy) and The Fiery Countess (Imperial Count) as winners out of the CR Commando mare The Gingaās Sister.
Imperial Command commands the field at Addington
Irish Dream (DownbytheseasideĀ – Splendid Bet) All the breeding in the world and the punters forgot about it! Irish Dream took the shortcuts late in the 6th of the night out of Addington, making a passing lane bid late to snare a most impressive debut win after impressing at recent workouts and trials. Irish Dream is out of the 5-time winner in Splendid Bet, a mare who counts Hands Christian, Christen Me, Aliante and Dream About me among her siblings. A big future looks assured for Irish Dream.
Winton 29thĀ JuneĀ
Autumn Belle (Sweet Lou – Supreme Bell) Matthew Williamson brought a powerful team to Winton on Saturday – and it didnāt take long for that team to make a winning impact. Autumn Belle, let go on the tote, looked at ease when scoring in the first after obtaining a nice mid-race sit. The daugher of Sweet Lou making good ground to pick up the rivals in the run to the line, posting 1.58 for the 1700m mobile trip. The breeding suggests this will not be the last victory for Autumn Belle, sheās a close relation to the prolific winner in Rum Delight, a winner of some 31 contests, while Esocbar (Betterthancheddar)Ā has notched up 7 victories.
Autumn Belle glides past the field in the 1stĀ of the day out of Winton
Dancing Glenis (A RocknRoll DanceĀ – Pistol Packing Mama) Perseverance paid off when it came to this daughter of A Rocknroll Dance. The now Negus trained runner made the most of a dynamic race in the 2nd on the card, outlasting race rivals from the parked position over the last 800m to score at race day start #35. The career had, up until the victory, been one of limited returns with 3 minor placings being achieved. Dam Pistol Packing Mama Ā has met with good success as a mother, with the impressive Bettor Pack A Pistol (Bettorās Delight) Bite The Bullet (Mach Three)Ā and Rocknroll Mama (A Rocknroll Dance)Ā among her progeny.
Eternal Dream (Sweet LouĀ – One Dream) One Dream has another winner to her name with Eternal Dream posting a brave victory in the 3rdĀ at Winton on Saturday. Favoured to feature by punters, Eternal Dream scored from on the speed, posting a flat 3.00.8 over the 2400m mobile event. The win caps a consistent start to the racing career for the Black trained runner with a brace of 4ths and a 2ndĀ among her first three results. Dam One Dream hardly needs an introduction, her class is well known, she captured a plethora of Gr1 titles in a fabulous career – the Ā 2007 NZ Oaks and Queens Of Hearts titles among her best wins.
The Queen Of Hearts One Dream produces another winner
Addington 30thĀ June
Bevron (Imperial Count – American Connection) Another winner for Imperial Count and a deserved win for a R Holmes runner who was always thereabouts. After some 43 starts Bevron is a maiden no longer, a tough win from parked when driven by Jim Curtin proving to be just what was needed for the 5yr-old. Bevron withstood a late challenge from Monaro Meg and stablemate Midnight Diamond to bring up the victory.
Hoo Haa (Captaintreacherous – Kate Black) Blasting them out as the outsider of the field in race #2, Hoo Haa and Blair Orange rocked them from a second row draw to bring up a maiden victory at odds of over 40/1. The recent form hadnāt been all that bad either, the runs behind Henry Winkler and Keeping It Kiwi were decent efforts from off the speed. Hoo Haa is out of Kate Black, a daughter of Kateās First with the progressive Got The Chocolates being a close relation.
Hoo Haa finds enough to score at big odds at Addington
Super Fund (Buy Kiwi MadeĀ – Better Bea Christian) Buy Kiwi Made is making a bit of a name for himself – and heās got another winner in the form of this Super Fund. Improving on from a debut 5th, Super Fund pounced from a running line sit to take the 3rd on the card from Lady Vincent and Ā Heaven. The 10/1 quote a little over the odds given the recent effort. Dam better Bea Christian becomes a winning broodmare with the win too – Super Fund being her only foal.
By Harnesslink Media