Bits and Bridles

Northern trainer Zachary Butcher reports Mantra Blue (Sweet Lou) is three to four weeks away from trialing.

The four year old harness racing mare had a Brisbane campaign on her radar but sickness threw those plans out the window.

“I’m very happy with her. She’s had her problems but seems to be coming right. The plan is to aim her for The Queen Of Hearts and The Golden Gait Series at the end of the year,” Butcher said.

From just seven starts Mantra Blue won four and was second in both the Group One New Zealand Oaks and the Nevele R Fillies Series Final. She last raced on December 10^th.

Two high end mares from Diamond Creek Farm leave the States on Monday with their destination Arden Lodge in Tapanui.

The mares are part of an expansion strategy by the American stud to send some of their mares down under to be bred to their own stallions and for the resulting foals to be raised and sold in New Zealand.

Unraced three year old fillies I’m In Heaven (Huntsville) and Easter Island (Captain Crunch) are the first of what could be up to twenty mares to be sent to New Zealand.

I’m In Heaven is out of Divine Caroline (Rock N Roll Heaven) which won eleven races and was Dan Patch Three Year Old Filly Of The Year in 2015.

Easter Island is out of World Champion Drop The Ball (Western Terror) the winner of twenty four  and $1.4 million.

Dual New Zealand Cup winner Copy That (American Ideal) is continuing his road to recovery.

“He’s still at Cambridge on the water treadmill. He’ll be there for a few more months. I doubt he’ll be back before the Cup,” trainer Ray Green said.

He added that the reports from the vets are very guarded.

“I saw the horse last week. He looks good. He was a bit fat when he went down there but he’s dropped a bit of weight since. I’m just hopeful at this stage.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink