Clearing maidens – A Next Level performance and a God Dam good win

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!

Ashburton 16^th January 

To Hill And Back  (What The Hill- K C Spur) The L McCormick trained trotter scored late when sweeping wide from an inside sit in a field that saw limited numbers in the first of the day. The victory was the first time in 11 starts that a first-three cheque was achieved by the Daughter of What The Hill. C K Spur, a SA Trotters Cup victor and winner of some 21 races, is out of granddam Jazmin Alicia.

A Dancing Rocka (A Rocknroll Dance – Cullen’s A Dancer) It didn’t take long for this pacer to make an impact – the debut win impressive given the son of A Rocknroll Dance had to find fighting qualities to come back at the runaway leader in Netra. The dam, Cullen’s A Dancer has left a nice enough horse in A Better Dancer, a 3-time winner.

Dulcinea (He’s Watching – Happy Dreamer) There’s a race for every horse, and for Dulcinea, race three at Ashburton was that race. The maiden, having start 32, managed a late inside run to claim a maiden victory in 2.04.9 over the 1700m mobile event. Previously trained by The Wakelin / Noble stable, Dulcinea had 3 placings up until the winning turn with now trainer Rob Davis adding another win to his growing tally – most of his wins coming with the impressive Buckskin.

Invercargill 18^th January 

Tuneinsportsfans (Sportswriter-Bute Falcon) Fans of this winner tuned in for a nice win in the 3^rd of the day at Ascot Park. Driven to the top of the race from an advantageous draw by Blair Orange, Tuneinsportsfans ran the 2200m trip in 2:45.30, seeing off a late challenge by Duke Of Scotland to capture the first win of his career. Tuneinsportsfans had been placed on 12 occasions coming into the race – a consistent type rewarded!

Trail Boss (Vincent(AUS)-Crimson Trail) The 4yr-old son of Vincent prospered from a race of change at Invercargill, pouncing from a cold sit off the speed to mount the decisive run wide on the track over the last 500m to secure his miaden victory. Trail Boss had previously impressed with a 2^nd place behind Lord Fantasy in early December while a 5^th placing in the NZ Sapling Stakes came in 2022 – a sign of the obvious potential the horse has had all along.  The win continues a strong run of form for the wider family with the maiden victory of Vinita Rose highlighted last week.

Trail Boss Replay 

Marlborough 19^th January 

The Chase (What The Hill-Loveonthelawn) Making them all chase him on day one at Marlborough was The Chase. Making amends for an early gallop at Banks Peninsula on the 7^th of January, The Chase led throughout and was untouched in the run to the line, winning over the B Hutton trained Signal Hill.  The Chase is a first foal out of a two-race winner in Loveonthelawn- herself a full sister to the impressive You Rock (6 wins).

Twista (Bettor’s Delight-Double Twist) Continuing on from some stout Nelson form, Twista proved tough and ready for action again, winning well after a mid-race move to the parked position. The family is both well-known and current – Twista being a 1/2 brother to the impressive Double Time. Granddam Giveitawhirlgirl is a super producer, leaving racetrack performers like Feels Like Magic (Artsplace) Twist And Twirl (Artsplace) and Double Twist (Artsplace)

Arden’s Pursuit (Sweet Lou-Rocknroll Arden ) Showing good gate speed to take a sit on the back of Fred Astaire, John Dunn and Arden’s Pursuit found enough in the run to the line to bring up a maiden victory at race start number seven. The 4yr-old had mixed form coming into the contest with a solitary placing coming at Timaru in November. Arden’s Pursuit is out of the capable Rocknroll Arden who managed 6 wins from 27 starts including a Group 1 placing in behind Venus Serena in the Nevele R Series Final in May of 2014. Arden’s Delight (10 wins) and Arden Roanoke (17 wins) are other talents out of the dam.

Cambridge 19^th January

Joca’s Hill (What The Hill – Jocasta) The Telfer-trained runner proved too good in the 1^st of the night at Cambridge on Friday, bringing up a smart maiden victory at career start number 4. The unruly start position and a slushy track proved no obstacle as an early move to the front of the race combined with a controlled demolition of race rivals over the final furlong. Joca’s Hill is the first winner from Jocasta with Jag’s Invasion (10 wins) Jumanji Franco (5 wins) and Majestic Jag (5 wins) all names associated with this dam-line. Joca’s Hill certainly looks one to follow in times to come.

God Dam (Betterthancheddar – God Forbid) There’s a real winning habit in this family and God Dam hasn’t let the side down either – finally winning her maiden victory at start number 18. A consistent performer in the non-win grade for some time, God Dam showed plenty of heart in winning well from the parked position after a mid-race move to the death. The overall time for the mobile 1700m mobile trip was 2.04.7. God Dam will need to string the wins together to get anywhere the record of her mother – God Forbid won 12 times and placed in behind Angelina Jolie in the Delightful Lady classic of 2013.

God Dam Replay 

Messenger Buoy (Sunshine Beach – Attsa Nice) Sending a message to race rivals, Messenger Buoy was an impressive maiden winner in the 4^th of the night. The Chilcott trained runner did have a nice trip in the 1/1 throughout the run, sweeping into things over the last 300m and holding on to secure a close victory over Classic Gold. Messenger Buoy is a 1/2 brother to the impressive Princess Kate – a winner of 8 race day appearances and mother to the 5-time winner in Katies Princess.

Next Level (Bettor’s Delight – Unforgiving) Next Level is going to the next level! A great debut win from the Steven Reid runner could point to bigger things for the son of Bettor’s Delight. Off the gate by some margin at dispatch, Next Level never looked like a winner, floundering around near the inside pegs for much of the contest. On drawing wider on the track with a furlong to go the erratic pacer finally knuckled down, flashing at the leader late to secure the most impressive win on the card. The race was won in a time of 2.43.3. There’s plenty of potential here – Next Level is a brother to the two-time winner in The Missing Sock, while the dam, Unforgiving, won 5 races in a career spanning some 25 starts.

Next Level Replay

Marlborough 21^st 

Diedre Franco (Creatine – Diedre’s Gold) Passing maidens at start #14, Diedre Franco dug in well to score in the first of the day on Sunday. A mid-race sit in the parked position meant the petrol tanks had to be well and truly depleted to grab the deserved win over Portelli who led the field up. The win continues a sound run of form for trainer Chris Thornley who managed 4 wins with those out of his stable in the year 2023. Diedre Franco is a first foal. If you explore the dam-line a little you’ll stumble across the good horse Ready Set (10 wins, 69’000)

Carrera Kahu (Sweet Lou – Flying Anvil) An impressive enough maiden who capped a sound last fortnight with a strong win. After improving efforts at Nelson, Carrera Kahu found the line best on Sunday when finding the peg-line early and clear air late to run down the leading Melody Arden. There’s plenty to like about the breeding of the Tim Fensom trained runner. Dam Flying Anvil won 6 races from just the 20 appearances including stringing together 4 consecutive victories in late 2012. A 1/2 sister, Carrera Lucia has won 4, while the wider family includes the well-performed Shezza GNP, Democracy, Just Dance, and Party Boy

Miley Ace (Gold Ace – Last Port Of Call) Drawing the ace and coming up with the ace result! Miley Ace showed gate speed from the #1 draw to lead initially before taking a mid-race sit behind Chal Vee Power, the progeny of Gold Ace burst through on the passing lane and maintained a handy lead to score from Itz All Fired Up and Spirited Lou. The victory followed 4 minor placings in 18 race day starts.

By Harnesslink Media