Bits and Bridles

Fourteen win pacer Robyns Playboy (Shadow Play) is back in work for Gore trainers Ross and Chris Wilson. The eighty five start, eight year old gelding last raced at Winton in April while his last win was at Wairio in January last year.

“He’d lightened up a bit. It’s the first time he’s had a decent spell for a long time. He’s looking good now,” Ross Wilson said.

His best season was as a three year old –  he won six races and ran a career highlight third in the Group One Three Year Old Emerald.

As an older horse Robyn’s Playboy was dubbed “the beast from the east.” He won three Tuapeka Cups, and he ran third in the Hannon Memorial in 2020 and 2021.

He returns to racing with an R49 assessment and is expected back at the races in September.

“He’s just got to be driven for one run now. If he’s in front and they level up to him he just lets them go by.”

Home bred stallion Charlton (Dream Vacation) now has a second qualifier among his progeny with two year old Luca getting his ticket at Rangiora on Wednesday.  Charlton’s racing career was restricted to just three starts which did include a win at Addington on debut as a two year old.

Luca was bred and is trained by Greg and Nina Hope and is out of their six win mare The Earth Moved (Monarchy) making him a half-brother to Mr Love (Love You) – 6 wins, and Crazy N Love (Love You) 3 wins.

Charlton has produced six registered two year olds for two qualifiers.

Ten win trotter Simone Lindenny (Love You) is back with Oamaru trainer Brad Williamson after a stint in Australia.

The six year old mare owned by Williamson and Grant Gray was sent to Australia in June last year where she won three races. She was placed over a mile in 1-55.9 at Menangle and achieved winnings of $27,294.

Simone Lindenny was back at the trials yesterday.

“We’ll breed from her after another stint of racing and we might race her in foal for a little bit perhaps,” Williamson said.

With all the major races out of the way for the first half of the season Merlin (Art Major) is currently the country’s top money earner with $520,675. Just Believe (Orlando Vici) sits at second.

The leading two year olds are Rubira (Always B Miki) with $111,462 in the bank from Got The Chocolates (Art Major) $86,088, whilst the top three year olds midseason are Chase A Dream (Captaintreacherous) $232,054 and Cold Chisel (Always B Miki) $196,339.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink