Clearing maidens – Dam Zariya enjoys a big week as a mother

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 13^th August

Savarna (Art Major – Zariya) A notable bloodline strikes again in the 2^nd of the night out of Cambridge on Tuesday night. The Fensom trained runner proved too tough for race rivals, winning at odds of 9/1 over the favoured types in Shirley Bassey and Sea Of Love. Savrana had previously placed in 3 of 12 race day appearances.

This is a family that’s both current and relevant, dam Zariya left the impressive Pacing Hope (Art Major) as her first foal, the filly going on to win 8 times from 84 starts, while Oakley Shard, a recent placegetter at Ashburton and subsequent winner at Oamaru, is also part of her progeny.

Savarna scores at 9/1 at Cambridge

Theo (Vincent – Festina Lente) Talk about deja vu – this debutante, again from the Fensom stables, took out the 4^th of the night at Cambridge at almost identical odds to their first winner. The strong debut win suggesting the maiden victory will not be the last for the 4yo by Vincent. In terms of breeding Theo is out of Festina Lente, the winner of 4 while her progeny includes the sound performer in Wimbaliri (Gotta Go Culllect) the winner of 6, three of his victories coming up in Western Australia.

Topaz Castleton (Peak – Castleton Gold) A maiden victory for a 6yr-old at start #12. The Warren Taylor trained runner is a maiden no longer after scoring  in the last of the night at Cambridge. The win came after Todd Mitchell pushed out from a trailing position to sit parked some 500m out from home, Topaz Castleton lasting to claim the win by a little over a length at the line.  Topaz Castleton is the 5^th winner out of Castleton Gold, among her other winnners are the impressive Sapphire Castleton (Malabar Maple) the winner of 10, and Sir Henry Castleton (Monarchy) the winnner of 4.

Topaz Castleton finds enough to score in the last of the night out of Cambridge.

Addington 16^th August

Habibti Pat (Father Patrick – Habibti Ivy) Habibti Pat, on debut, was all class and professionalism when scoring in the 2nd of the night at Addington on Friday. The Blair Orange driven filly proving too strong, taking the passing lane to win effortlessly over Zsazsa Binx and the fast-finishing Major Cyclone. The impact this breed has had on the trotting game, particularly in the last decade or so, can’t be understated, Habibti Ivy, dam of the winner, won 9 during her career, including a Gr1 Anzac Cup victory alongside a number of other trotting features.

As a broodmare she’s left The Ivy League as her first foal. Habibti Ivy being a full sister to Habibti (16 wins) Lothario (6 wins) and Habibi Inta, who scored a Dominion Handicap victory among his 11 wins. Outstanding trotters come from this family – Habibti Pat could well be the next trotting star.

Habibti Pat could well be the next star out of the juvenile trotting ranks.

Five Crowns (Bettor’s Delight – Gladamare) Run down when presented on debut, Five Crowns didn’t allow that to happen again when scoring well in the 3^rd of the night at Addington. Once again Blair Orange showed his talents in the sulky, handling the Purdon trained runner over the 1980m mobile trip. There’s plenty of breeding involved with Five Crowns, his dam Gladamare won 4 from 25 while the damline traces back to that Black Watch name that so many champions have sprung from over the years.

Teddy The Terror (Terror To Love – Jane) Another winner for John Morrison, Teddy The Terror made use of the passing lane to surge past Louretta and score in the 5^th of the night out of Addington. Teddy The Terror had recently been placed in behind Betterthancash on the 2^nd of August. Dam Jane now has her second winner on the board, her first being the smart Total Diva, the winner of a number of Gr3 titles in Australia.

Alexandra Park  16^th August

Upstage (Sweet Lou – Steel The Light) It was a cased of upstaging the race rivals on Friday night at Alexandra Park for this Steve and Amanda Telfer trained 3yr-old. Coming off a 2^nd placing in behind Predator a fortnight ago, Upstage proved too strong from the front of the field, a late bid from Harold Hanover being seen off over the last furlong. Upstage counts the impressive types Steel The Show (Bettor’s Delight) and Lady Of The Light (Bettor’s Delight) among siblings – those connections alone would be cause for hope of additional wins from Upstage in the near future.

Upstage upstages them at Alexandra Park

Maro Mackendon (Muscle Mass – Princess Mackendon) Maro Mackendon may not have placed in the previous 5 starts but on Friday night the 4yr-old by Muscle Mass took his chance, outlasting a full field of rivals to score in the 7^th of the night from a closing Eye See You. The victory sees Princess Mackendon, a 9-time winer herself, become a winning broodmare with Maro Mackendon being the first foal out of the mare.

Kurow 18^th August

Millie Let Loose (Superfast Stuart – Foot Loose) Millie Let Loose alright. The 1st of the day from Oamaru saw John Morrison and Millie Let Loose prove too strong for race rivals, taking a mid-race trailing sit and producing a sound passing lane bid to win in 3.30.4 over the 2600m standing start event. Millie Let Loose paid $11 to win, a late gallop at recent Ashburton trials meant support on the tote was limited. Dam Foot Loose won a solitary race from 32 starts and has since left Boyz Let Loose (Brylin Boyz) and Girls Let Loose (Superfast Stuart) as a broodmare

Millie Let Loose lasts to score at Oamaru.

Oakley Shard (Sweet Lou – Zariya) After closing late at Ashburton last start Oakley Shard took the next step required on Sunday, a powerful last furlong securing victory after Jonny Cox skillfully negotiated a path through horses from the 400m mark. The late speed suggests this will not be the last win for the daughter of Sweet Lou. Dam Zariya has done a nice job as a mother with Pacing Hope, an 8-time winner by Art Major being her first foal – it was also her second win by her progeny this week, her first of the week being Savarna

Moonlite Blood (Art Major – Blood Moon) Last start Moonlite Blood did things tough, sitting parked in a race won by Major Henry at Addington, on Sunday Robbie Close and the son of Art Major found the going a little easier, simply sitting in the trail throughout the running of the 2000m event and scoring via a short passing lane bid. The maiden win coming up at race start #3. The damline here goes back to the terrific pacer in Miss Moonlite, winner of the Gr1 Breeders Crown 4YO Mares Final of 2012.

Moonlite Blood finds Oamaru to his liking, scoring well up the passing lane in the third of the day.

By Harnesslink Media