Clearing Maidens – Caught The Eye catches the eye with slashing display

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

Addington 17th December

Royal Gypsy (Royal Aspirations – Commander Del) Every time Fred Fletcher gets one to the races it pays to sit up and take notice, and for good reason too with the stable firing on all cylinders lately. This 3yr-old proved too strong for race rivals on Tuesday, winning well on debut when squaring up against a limited field in the 2nd on the card.

This breed is well known with dam Commander Del leaving the progressive Royal Del, a winner during Cup Week in November, and Royal Grace who placed 4th behind Styx Jewel last week.

Royal Gypsy wins another race in those great colours of Fred Fletcher

Kawactus (Highview Tommy – Warm Soak) There’s a race for every horse and, on Tuesday, this daughter of Highview Tommy found the race for her. Kawactus had been improving in recent starts with a 7th in behind Belmont Valor last week being her best performance in some time.

The McDowell stable picks up another win which extends a nice run of form for the stable.

Have A Little Faith (Majestic Son – Flying Hillary) Punters put the faith in this Williamson trained runner on Tuesday and that faith paid dividends when the daughter of Majestic Son scored on debut.

The trial form had been strong with winning efforts coming at the expense of the race-winning Tarragindi among other performers. Have A litte Faith is the first foal out of the Muscle Hill mare in Flying Hillary.

Plenty of faith here as the Williamson barn produces a nice debut win.

Whosedreamingnow (Sweet Lou – Dream Offer) Another winner from the Yesberg stable, Whosedreamingnow had always possessed enough ability to win a race, and, on Tuesdya, Carter Dalgety found the late gaps up the inner of the Addington track to score well from Gimesomelovin and My Skatjie.

The win was the first from some 23 starts with 5 minor placings being achieved previously.

Cambridge 19th December

Veronica Jane (Majestic Son – Nurse Ronerail) At impressive maiden winner at odds, veronica Jane got the night off to a great start for the J Teaz barn with a smart victory in the first of the night.

The 4yr-old mare proving too strong for Ivanka and Skee Princess in 2.54.1 over the 2200m standing start event. Dam Nurse Ronerail was unraced with Veronica Jane being her first foal.

Mary Magdalene (Lazarus – Ruby Jane) Prayers answered. After producing a consistent formline in her first 6 starts Mary Magdalene found the winning post for the first time on Thursday, her gate-speed proving enough to hold the lead throughout from the #1 draw and see off a late challenge from Showtym Girl over the final furlong.

Ruby Jane becomes a winning broodmare with the victory, Mary Magdalene being her only foal.

Mary Magdalene scores well at Cambridge.

Invercargill 20th December

Cracker Opie (Bettor’s Delight – Saucy Operator) After an underwhelming as favourite at Oamaru Cracker Opie showed a willingness to improve further at Invercargill on Friday, sitting parked for much of the 2200m mobile event and finding enough to catch race leader Dallas Dale in the run to the line to bring up his maiden victory at start #2.

The Ferguson trained runner is well bred and counts the 10-race winner Jarcullembra among his siblings alongside the 5-time victor in Saucy El.

Ashburton 22nd December

Major Doosie (Majestic Son – Yankee Doosie) A deserved win for a consistent juvenile. Major Doosie had impressed in recent starts, featuring in age group features and putting together a strong formline against strong opposition. On Sunday the White trained runner found the lead and never looked back, holding off a late challenge from Silvester to score at race day start #8.

There’s plenty of breeding around the son of Majestic Son, dam Yankeedoosie won 4 and left the progressive types in Forget the Price Tag (5 wins) and American Pride (6 wins)

Major Doosie lasts to score at Ashburton.

Caught The Eye (Captain Crunch – Spicey Delight) Another smart winner at Ashburton was this Telfer trained runner. Caught The Eye, while trailing early, was out and around to lead the small field up in the second of the day, blasting away over the final furlong to score well at short odds in the hands of Tim Williams.

The nature of the win, carved out in a slick 2.01.5 over the 1700m, suggests there’s a big future in store for this daughter of Captain Crunch.

Caught The Eye comes from a strong maternal line with dam Spicey Delight being a daughter of Spicey (Christian Cullen) winner of the 2007 NZ Yearling Sales Series Final when victorious over Belletti and Top Tempo.

Caught The Eye catches the eye at Ashburton

Flying For Me (He’s Watching – Uralla Sue) The third of the day looked a two-horse affair between Revolution and A Girl Named Vinny – until Flying For Me turned up and ran a brave race after a mid-race move to a 3-wide position on the speed, from there it was all about digging deep for the son of He’s Watching, with the 4yr-old finding enough to master Revolution in the dying stages of the 1700m mobile event.

Flying For Me had previously hit the line well-being Whosdreamingnow at Addington.

Bettor Go Vinnie (Vincent – Delightful Dale) Yet another short-priced favourite who lived up to expectations at Ashburton, Bettor Go Vinnie was asked to step things out and hold on over the concluding stages of the 4th of the day at Ashubrton.

The strong front-running performance meaning that the length win was well deserved.

Bettor Go Vinnie is another winner supported by a strong damline with Delightful Dale having left the impressive Shandale,a Gr2 winner on Australian soil and winner of 14, as her first foal, she would follow that act up by leaving the 24-time winner So Bobs Your Uncle as her second! Shandance (9 wins) and Illavabubbles (15 wins) are also from the mare meaning this is a family of high quality performers.

Bettor Go Vinnie becomes bettor go winning at Ashburton.

Didjaseemiki (Always B Miki – Imprint) Continuing the charmed run of the dam Imprint, Didjaseemiki benefitted from a nice 3-wide cart into things over the 170m mobile trip, seeing off a number of late challenges and lifting enough herself to score over a brave Vesta and Jena.

The win came up after 12 previous attempts and 4 minor placings. Imprint has become a star broodmare, her progeny including Opulent, Idolise, Idealindiamonds, and the flying Dibaba.

by Harnesslink Media