Clearing maidens – The brilliant broodmare Chicago Blues strikes again

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!

Invercargill 27th November

Hogie (He’s Watching – Serene Abbey) The last time the Michael Williams stable had a winner was back in 2011 so this victory by Hogie, which came up in the second of the day out of Invercargill, marked a welcome return to the winners photo no doubt. The 5yr-old benefited from a trailing trip throughout the running with a late passing lane burst enough to see him home from Gati and Donald Trot.

The win came up after 7 previous starts that had resulted in 3 minor placings. Hogie is the second winner out of Serene Abbey, the first being the impressive 6-time winner in Emerald Abbey.

By Chance (Lord Forbes – Livy Franco) The juvenile by Lord Forbes and trained by Gavin Forbes – there’s a nice story in that somewhere. By Chance looked the part and produced the goods in the 3rd out of Invercargill, putting in a performance that matched the short odds he was sent out at to win by a little under a length over Wild East and Sent – the effort was a sound one considering the tough run By Chance had to endure throughout the later stages of the event.

Dam Livy franco won 3 and left the 6-time winner La La Land as her first foal.

By Chance puts in some sound work to score a maiden victory at Invercargill

Chicago Sky (Bettor’s Delight – Chicago Blues) It’s a grand breed with yet another winner. This Katrina and John Price trained runner was always going to carry support on debut given the royal blood involved here – and the filly delivered on that lineage with an impressive debut winner at Invercargill, seeing off Showcase to score in a time of 2.44.4 over the 2200m mobile event.

The 2yr-old is a full sister to the amazing Chicago Bull and the impressive Perfect Stride, both of whom met with great success while racing on Australian soil.

Chicago Sky makes it a winning debut at Invercargill.

Alexandra Park 29th November

Miki Flybye (Always B Miki – Ideal Flybye) Miki flew by. Making his 2nd race day appearance, Miki Flybye proved a little too slick for race rivals in the second of the night out of Alexandra Park, scoring well after working hard to obtain the lead in the event with a lap to go. A steady kick over the last furlong ensured a length victory over Greased Lightning and Beaudiene Hunter.

Miki Flybye is out of Ideal Flybye the mother to the impressive Kahlua Flybye and a class mare herself, winning 10 races in her career.

Miki Flybye strolls to an impressive victory at Alexandra Park.

Kevin Kline (Always B Miki – Matai Mies) Making a great night for those by Always B Miki, Kevin Kline made sure his favouritism was right on the mark in the last of the night, kicking clear from the front of the race to score in 2.44.8 over the 2200m mobile trip. The maternal line surrounding Kevin Kline is a strong one with dam Matai Mies winning 6 from 29 . Helena Jet, a 13-time winner by Jeremy’s Jet is also out of the grandam Matai Marlene.

Akaroa 30th November

Kiss Me Kate (Majestic Son – Shimmie Shook Shook) After coming up just a little short last week when running 2nd to Night Life Kiss Me Kate found that little bit more on Sunday, showing a nice turn of foot over the concluding stages to take out the 1st on the card in fine fashion.

This breed is well known with dam Shimmie Shook Shook winning twice and leaving the impressive All Shook Up (5 wins) and All Settled Down (4 wins) alongside the known grass trackers in Sun Swinger (4 wins) and Vertigo (8 wins)

It’s fair to say that if this breed turns up on the green stuff then it would be best to pay attention.

Kiss Me Kate scores at Banks Peninsula

Melton Magnate (Betting Line – Southern Rain) Another maiden who had looked promising and finally delivered on some of the talent on Sunday was this son of Betting Line. A late and wide bid proved the winning of this race with Melton Magnate initially finding himself buried on the pegs.

The late burst proving enough to see of race favourite Revolution in the run to the line. This is the paternal line that goes back to Raindowne, mother to the good performers in Six Diamonds and Tom Martin.

Zarlini (Bettor’s Delight – Cullini) A mare who got under the guard after showing some speed in her first outings to the track, Zarlini and Ben Hope showed plenty of gas from the mobile arm and enough of the same speed late to snare a nice victory from race favourite Jena and Partners In Wine. Dam Cullini had a sound record, winning 7 times from 41 starts and has since left the flying Usain Bolt (9 NZ wins) and consistent Eddie Osei (4 wins)

Zarlini claims race favourite Jena in the run to the line at Banks Peninsula.

Methven 1st December

A Better Jackalack (Betterthancheddar – Jackalack Sue) A known grass breed gets the job at Methven. After impressing at Ashburton behind Fredastaire A Better Jackalack proved too strong and talented for a field of maidens at Methven, sitting parked for much of the last lap and finding enough to see Lasa and Jay R Tolkien in the run to the line.

Jackalack Sue won no less than 8 races in her career with A Bettor Jackalack being her second winner after leaving the 3-time winner He’s A Jackalack as her first foal.

A Better Jackalack shows plenty of stamina in winning at Methven

Vermeer Lustre (Art Major – Valor Lustre) A winner at big odds out of the Ivan Court barn, Vermeer Lustre made the most of some good manners at Methven, seeking out the front of the race and taking a position on the speed throughout the running of the second on the card, a late bid was enough to score by a short margin over one of the favoured types in Franco Elvis.

Vermeer Lustre is out of the impressive Valor Lustre, a winner of 9 races.

by Harnesslink Media