Clearing maidens – A 70/1 debut winner shakes up Alexandra Park

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

Manuwatu 12^th March

Dom Toretto (Sweet Lou – Lady Smack) The Hughes runner, a consistent performer through most of the career, saluted as one of the favoured runners in the third of the day at Manuwatu on the 12^th. After a strong Hawera showing in February, Dom Toretto secured a favourable run through from the second row draw on Tuesday, finding enough in the run home to master Narobi in the shadows of the post. The win coming after 6 minor placings in 15 previous race day appearances. The Sweet Lou 4yr-old is out of the Bettor’s Delight mare in Lady Smack, mother of the impressive Ideal Agent (American Ideal) a now Gr2 winner in Australia having taken out the Easter Cup at Gloucester Park in April of 2022. Expect Dom Toretto to remain competitive up in grade in times to come.

Apple Of My Eye (A Rocknroll Dance – Eyeslookingatyou) Punters let this daughter of A Rocknroll Dance go a little on the tote at Manuwatu with the Donnelly trained runner going out the third favourite despite a recent 3^rd at the same track.  Showing gate-speed to burn, Apple Of My Eye couldn’t be headed from the front of the race, winning by a comfortable margin for Zev Meredith. It extends the race record to 1 win and 1 minor placing from just the 3 starts. Apple Of My Eye is out of the good race mare in Eyeslookingatyou, a runner-up in the Nevele R Stud Caduceus Fillies Classic of 2003 when finishing behind Tirol’s Sallance.

Apple Of My Eye scores at Manuwatu 

Manuwatu 14^th March 

Carolina Moon (Mach Three– Miss Moonlight Shadow) The exposed form suggested a maiden victory wasn’t too far away and it proved to be so with Carolina Moon saluting in the 4^th of the night at Palmerston North. The victory coming up in 2.30 over the 2000m mobile race. Dam Miss Moonlight Shadow was unraced but has proven herself a successful mother, leaving the likes of Ranger Bomb (Sportswriter) a 10-time winner and Gr3 placed performer in Australia, and Teddy Baker (Somebeachsomewhere) a horse, trained by Matthew Williamson, who has 4 wins to his name currently.

Ha’Penny (Art Major – C A Penny) Winning a race named after your mother! A memorable maiden win from Ha’Penny concluded the action from Thursday night. The Shutkowski trained runner peaked at just the right time to honor the family lineage and secure the first win of the career at race start #8.  The race whom the race was named after, C A Penny was a useful mare herself, winning 7 from 46 including a meritorious 4^th in the Gr1 New Zealand Breeders Stakes of 2017 behind The Orange Agent and a Gr2 placing in the Premier Mares Championship of the same year. Ha’Penny is both the first foal and winner from the daughter of Pay Me Christian.

Ha’penny salutes in a race named after her mother

Addington 15^th  March

Harrison John (Always B Miki-Rozelski) Making up part of a big night at Addington for those out of the Robert and Jenna Dunn stable, Harrison John secured a hard fought win at his 6^th race day appearance in the 2^nd on the card. With mid-race speed on it turned into somewhat of a war of attrition with Harrison John able to master the brave Buddha and stablemate Double Quick in the run to the line.

Harrison John is out of the speed merchant Rozelski (Bettor’s Delight) a mare who captured the Gr3 Nevele R Stud Fillies Classic at Ascot Park in 2012. Cosmic Major, a Gr2 winner and Gr1 placed son of Art Major is a close relation, along with the now 10-race winner in Dragon Tattoo (Art Major)

Alexandra Park 15^th March 

Mantra (Rock N Roll Heaven – Tempest Bromac) The blowout of the week and that’s an understatement. Blasting them out at huge odds, Mantra made the most of a late shortcut up the passing lane to score at around 70/1 in the 4^th of the night. After finishing a lonely last at recent workouts punters dismissed the J Young trained runner although the horse obviously didn’t care for that, showing good speed late to come away a debut winner. Mantra certainly has the family speed too – grandam Tasmcmanian left the smart Tas Man Bromac (American Ideal) a Gr3 winner in Australia, and the Gr3 placed Taroona Bromac (Western Ideal)

Mantra scores at big odds at Alexandra Park 

Wyndham 16^th March 

Huckleberry (The Pres-Majestic Way) Proving the toughest of the maidens in the first of the day at Wyndham was Huckleberry. The son of The Pres bringing up his maiden victory at just the third race day start after previously being placed at Invercargill on the 9^th.  The McIntyre runner is the first winner out of the unraced mare in Majestic Way – the wider family includes the sound performers Alley Way (Monarchy) and Only One Way (Majestic Son)

Franco Erza (Bettor’s Delight – Edinburgh Franco) A dead heat is still a win! Making the most of a trip in behind a nice speed, Franco Erza fought hard to the line and was unable to be separated from Always Dreaming – both runners sharing the spoils in 1.59.07. It was the second start for the Telfer trained runner after an early mistake on debut saw him fade out of things early.

Ward Lamon (Downbytheseaside – Lincolns Keepsake) A poor draw didn’t stop this Kirk Larsen trained runner from scoring a victory at good odds in the 11^th of the day. With consistent performances in his last couple of starts, Ward Lamon proved a little too slick over the 2400m mobile trip. The wider family is a good one – Dam Lincolns Keepsake won 4 from limited starts while Sir Lincoln, needing little introduction to fans of the sport, is also out of Grandam Clare De Lune (Beach Towel) It could well be the start of bigger and better things for Ward Lamon.

Montage (A Rock N Roll Dance – Shamrocks) Sent out favourite and delivering in the last of the day at Wyndham, Montage brought up his maiden victory at start #15. While only filling a top 3 position on 1 previous occasion Montage was sent out as a favoured runner due to a consistent run of recent form – the money on the mark with the Hunter trained runner winning by a decent 3-length margin.

Banks Peninsula 17^th March

Bounce N Beyond (Majestic Son – Dead Cat Bounce) Fresh-up and first home, Bounce N Beyond, a heavily supported favourite, made sure the punters got paid with a strong win in the first of the day at Banks Peninsula. The Robert and Jenna Dunn trained winner proved too much for race rivals after early manners meant the 3yr-old stayed near the speed throughout the running and cantered down to the line to win comfortably over Monaro Meg. Dam Dead Cat Bounce won 13 races and is now a winner as a mother – Bounce N Beyond being her first foal.

Bounce N Beyond – off to a winning start at Banks Peninsula.

Igetakickoutofyou (Sweet Lou– Our Melody AUS) Bringing up a maiden victory at start number 20, Igetakickoutofyou swept into things from the 400m to claim the win in the second of the day. The win coming after some strong form on the West Coast. Dam Our Melody left the impressive Gossip Girl, a 4-time winner, as her first foal. The win only part of a strong day for the Purvis trained runners with the stable taking home three winners on the day.

Cheeky Red (Always B Miki – Beaujolais) Another deserved maiden winner after producing some consistent efforts of late, Terry Chmiel and Cheeky Red pounced from a cozy 1/1 sit throughout the running, mastering leader Spectator in the shadows of the post to score at race day start #7. The Low trained son of Always B Miki had placed on three previous occasions. The win also being a first win for the progeny of dam Beaujolais with grandam, Rona Lorraine, being well-known to fans as the winner of the 2008 Nevele R Stud Caduceus Classic at Gr1 level.

By Harnesslink Media