Clearing Maidens – Daughter of Venus Serena impresses at Ashburton

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’ve all got one thing in common now – they’re race winners!

Cambridge 6^th August

Papenhuyzen (Vincent – Beckinsale) Favoured to score in the third of the night out of Cambridge, Papenhuyzen, trained, by Logan Hollis and Shane Robertson, duly delivered in a strong showing after taking the passing lane to score in 2.49.5 over the 2200m mobile event. The win extended the career racing record to a win and 2 minor placing from 7 race day starts. Papenhuyzen is out of the well-travelled Beckinsale, the winner of some 10 races from 86 lifetime starts, her progeny now includes two winners, the other being Bridget Louise (A Rocknroll Dance)

Papenhuyzen is victorious at Cambridge

Red Rackham (Vincent – Zenterfold) It’s another maiden winner out of the Donnelly barn. This 4yr-old gelding by Vincent may have been the most impressive winner on the night, running away from the race rivals over the final furlong to score by a margin of over 4 lengths in a slick time of 2.44.1 over the 2200m trip.  Dam Zenola Star has produced plenty of stars herself, her first foal being the speed merchant Tintin In America (McArdle) Could Red Rackham continue to develop towards being a star himself? Only time will tell.

Invercargill 8^th August

 Rakadeaks (Sunshine Beach – Rakarata)Finding the line the best in the small first field out of Invercargill on Thursday, Rakadeaks saw off late passing lane challengers to score a maiden victory at start #7. The win also meant the training partnership of Richard and Fiona Stevens are off the mark as trainers of winning types. The 3yr-old by Sunshine Beach carries on the winning run of dam Rakarata with all but one of her progeny currently winners.

Stella Bay (Majestic Son – Aleana)Stella Bay had been threatening to win a race for some time, and, for connections, that milestone came up on Thursday with the mare seeing off rivals to salute in the 2^nd of the day. B Orange drove the Lyndon Bond trained runner aggressively enough too, making an early bid for the lead and never looking back, scoring by over a length from Superfast ROnnie and Sonny Jim.

Stella Bay scores from the front at Invercargill

Putere Boy (Ulitmate Machete – One Ali) Another winner by Ultimate Machete. Putere Boy might be one to watch in the future if the nature of his maiden win is anything to go by.  After moving forward to take an early lead, Craig Ferguson and Putere Boy found themselves shuffled well off the pace with a lap of the Invercargill track to go, not that it mattered late with the 3yr-old picking up the field well over the last furlong. The win came up after a strong debut 3^rd last week.

Dam One Ali never greeted the judge but has been producing the goods as a mother – the most notable of her progeny being the 8-time winner in The Bull Pen (Tintin In America)

 Putere Boy shows a touch of class at Invercargill

Addington 9^th August

Salute (Sweet Lou – Gibson Girl) That’s exactly what the 3yr-old did. Coming out of some stronger fields, Salute got under the radar of punters in the second of the night out of Addington, the B hill trained runner making the most of things to score well in 3.19.3 over the 2600m mobile trip. Salute had previously ran 5^th behind Betterthancash. Dam Gibson Girl won 2 from 8 starts and is a daughter of the star pacer Carpenters Daughter, a Gr1 winner who scored in the Roll With Jow Crown Final of 2013.

Alexandra Park 9^th August

Runkle Crunch (Captain Crunch – Marcy Runkle) A juvenile worth following, Runkle Crunch impressed at odds in the 4^th of the night out of Alexandra Park, scoring in 2.04.6 over the 1700m mobile trip. The win following a debut which saw the Hughes trained runner finish 4^th behind Tyson on the 26^th of July.

Dam Marcy Runkle showed promise, winning her maiden and placing once again from just three race day starts. The damline here traces back to the impressive Pullover Brown (Ambro Operative) winner of the Gr1 NZ Oaks of 2003 when victorious over Classical and Coburg.

Runkle Crunch makes the most of an inner run to score at start #2

Desistella (He’s Watching – Desluna) Another favourite home at the park. The Zachary Butcher runner followed the pattern of passing lane winners on Friday, besting race leader I Can Too over the final furlong to bring up a debut win over the 2200m event.  Desistella is the 2nd winner left by the Changeover mare in Desluna, the first being the now 5-time winner in Jekamias (Betterthancheddar)

Ashburton 11^th August

Megaband (Father Patrick – Broadband) Fresh off an early gallop in behind Torquay Street when last presented, Megaband made the most of some manners at Ashburton, proving too strong for opposition in the first of the day from off the speed. The nature of the victory might suggest further wins aren’t too far away either. By star sire Father Patrick Megaband is the 3^rd winner out of Broadband, the first two being Wy Fi (Love You) and Kiss My Pexel (Father Patrick)

Megaband rounds up the opposition from well back in the field at Ashburton

Take The Deal (American Ideal – Give Or Take) The recent trial form suggested Take A Deal would be hard to beat in the second at Ashburton and so it proved, the son of American Ideal the narrowest of winners over the House trained Spectator when running a 2.05.5 time over the short 1700m mobile distance. Take The Deal had previously weakened to a 6^th placing behind Memphis Blaster at Addington. Dam Give Or Take was a nice mare, winning 4 during her 25 start career.

Arden’s Memory (Bettor’s Delight – Venus Serena) You’d be hard pressed to find a better bred maiden winner this week. Trained by the Mark and Nathan Purdon team, Arden’s Memory saw off Ruby Tuesday and Oakley Shard to bring up her maiden victory at start #4. The fact that the filly had run up in Group company previously meaning the Ashburton field she faced would have represented little worry.

Dam Venus Serena hardly needs an introduction, the winner of just under $800’000 in stakes, she set multiple NZ Records during her time on the track – she’s obviously imparted a little bit of that famous speed into Arden’s memory.

Arden’s Memory finds enough to see off Ruby Tuesday.

By Harnesslink Media