Clearing maidens – Driver, trainer, owner finally salutes at 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’ve all got one thing in common now – they’re race winners!

Cambridge 29th October

Crackerjack (Majestic Son – Loveonthelawn) An impressive juvenile winner out of the Ferguson stable, Crackerjack upset older rivals off handicaps to take the first of the day out of Cambridge on Tuesday. The win coming up at start #2 after a sound 2nd when racing on debut. Crackerjack simply brought the manners, sitting in the trail throughout and pulling out at the top of the straight to pass race leader Skee Princess in the run to the winning post.

Crackerjack is the second winner out of Loveonthelawn, the first being The Chase (What The Hill).

Crackerjack scores nicely at Cambridge

Shonny Lou (Sweet Lou – Kilkeel Lady) A consistent performer throughout the month of October, this McCaffrey trained 4yr-old proved too strong in the 3rd out of Cambridge, denying Bigger The Bettor late to win at each-way odds of 9/1. The overall time for the 2200m mobile trip 2.44.2 – and that was hard fought with mid-race pressure present during the run. Dam Kilkeel Lady won 7 during an extended 150 start career.

Alwaysbesecret (Always B Miki – Secret Love) The Chilcott stable is always to be respected around Cambridge so it’s no surprise the wins keep on coming for the barn when racing at their home track. Alwaysbesecret, a 3yr-old by Always B Miki, impressed in the 5th race on the card, scoring from Spirited Peggy and Betyoucan in a time of 2.47.3 over the 2200m mobile distance.

The formline coming into the event had been a strong and consistent one with Alwaysbesecret never finishing outside the top 5 in 5 previous appearances. Dam Secret Love (Real Desire) now has 3 individual winners to her name as a mother including the 10-time winner Abdicate (Sportswriter).

Alwaysbesecret scores narrowly after leading up at Cambridge.

Ashburton 28th October

Buddha (Downbytheseaside – Tricky Girl) Finding his inner peace at Ashburton, Buddha made the most of a good start in the 1st of the day, leading the maiden field throughout the running and holding off a late bid from Always On Sale to score at start #3. The previous 2nd behind Heaven followed a brace of placings in his first two starts. Buddha is the 4th individual winner out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Tricky Girl.

Winton 31st October

Hennessy (Peak – Jelly Bean) Another winner for trained Alex Milne, Hennessey was driven confidently throughout the running of the first out of Winton, defying the race rivals from the front of the field to score in 3.13.8 over the 2400m stand event. Hennessy is the only foal out of the 2-time winning mare in Jelly Bean.

Hennessy leads them and beats them at Winton.

Ultimate Weapon (Bettor’s Delight – Reality Check) Ultimate Weapon proved himself the ultimate winner in the 4th of the day at Winton, leading the field up and kicking clear in some tough last sectionals to score for the Nathan Williamson stable. The win was the 2nd time the Williamson had placed inside the top three positions with a 2nd at Winton coming in late 2023. Ultimate Weapon is well breed being out of the class mare Reality Check (Armbro Operative) winner of the NZ Yearling Sales Fillies Final of 2006 when beating Spicey and Weka Lass.

Reality Check ended her career having won over $130’000. As a mother Reality Check has excelled with Major Reality (23 wins) Ultimate Machete (13 wins) and Ultimate Sniper (14 wins) among her progeny.

Ultimate Weapon is out of star producer Reality Check

Methven 1st November

Diamond Harbour (Creatine – Swell Harbour) A deserved win from an improved mare, Diamond Harbour did things the tough way in the first of the day out of Methven, sitting parked throughout the 1700m event to score narrowly over a fast-finishing Tessamae. Diamond Harbour had previously gone close behind Mikko Koivu and Knowing Me in recent weeks hence why the James trained runner went around as race favourite.

Dam Swell Harbour has done a nice job as a mother with Diana Harbour, Earl Harbour and Red Harbour all winners on the track.

Diamond Harbour toughs things out from parked to score at Methven

Comic Lustre (Sky Major – Atomic Lustre) A front running drive by Tim Williams saw this Ivan Court traind runner impress in the 2nd at Methven, Comic Lustre showing plenty of kick over the final 400m to score nicely over the Anderson trained bettor fear Me who had closed well from off the pace. Comic Lustre is the first winner out of the unraced mare Atomic Lustre. The wider family includes the 8-time winner Ardent Lustre (Falcon Seelster).

Festus Haggen (Shadow Play – Ultimate Angel) Festus Haggen always brings his manners and, on Friday, that fact alone was good enough to see the son of Shadow Play home in the 3rd of the day. Festus Haggen and Leo O’Reilly simply leading throughout the kicking clear of the trailing Greets over the final 300m to score well. The win coming up after 15 previous starts that resulted in 6 minor placings.

Alexandra Park 1st November

Double Parked (Downbytheseaside – Mockingjay) A big, bustling son of Downbytheseaside, Double Parked found himself exactly that in the 3rd of the night at Alexandra Park, having to do things tough from that position to score narrowly over Tytate. The effort came in his second run back after a 3rd behind Waltzing With Miki on the 18th of October. Double Parked is the first foal out of 4-time winner Mockingjay (Bettor’s Delight).

Dolly P (Dream Vacation – Rocket) There’s a race for every horse. That’s the message after Dolly P finally managed to get over the line before any of her race rivals on Friday after some 59 prior starts. Swooping from the 1/1 and aided by a late gallop by Heartbreak Hotel, Holly P found enough over the concluding stages to bring up a much-deserved win for owner/ trainer/ driver Maria Perriton.

Dolly P had previously placed on 7 prior occasions but is now officially a race winner. Dam Rocket notches up her second victor as a mother too with Randel Huston P a 3-time winner to date.

Dolly P scores a memorable win at Alexandra Park.

Kaikoura 3rd November

Rushkinoff (Sweet Lou – Balishka) Rushing home to score in the second of the day from the South Bay was this Dalgety trained runner. The 4yr-old surprising a few in the run home as he bolted home down the outer of the track to win in fine style from Misty Blue and The Next Best Thing. Rushkinoff had previously been hard to follow, gathering 3 minor placings from 17 race day starts.

The speed shown by Rushkinoff could well be explained by looking a little into the damline here – Dam Balishka won 7 times and left the star mare Delishka (44 wins) as her 2nd foal.

by Harnesslink Media