Clearing maidens- Echoes of Lyell Creek and Molly Darling

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!

Addington 22^nd 

Major Hipster (Art Major – Hip Pocket) Proving far too good for maiden company on Thursday night was Major Hipster. The 2.27 effort seeing the son of Art Major score an impressive 3 length victory over the Brad Mowbray trained The Bettor Major. The win followed a third last start when being defeated by the impressive Wish Me Luck. Major Hipster, out of the Brendon Hill stable, is a close relation to Bubba Scrub (He’s Watching) a now 7-time winner in Australia after 3 victories on NZ soil, and the improving Boo (Mach Three) who now has 6 wins after being exported after a fruitless NZ race career.

Wyndham 23^rd

Hail Stone (Wishing Stone – Filigree Sheree) Wishing Stone may not have many on the ground but Hail Stone became the latest winner by the sire on Friday, bringing up a maiden victory at start #16. The 5YO mare had been a model of consistency coming into the meeting with placings at each of her last 3 starts – which included a 2^nd on the Cromwell track in January.  Hail Stone is the first winner produced by the Thanksgiving mare in Filigree Sheree – a relation to the great Lyell Creek.

Hail Stone is a distant relation to the great Lyell Creek

Sunshine Moment (Sunshine Beach – Fleeting Moment) Leading for much of the race in the 2^nd of the day, Sunshine Moment looked a horse on the up in winning the 1800m event in 2.20.4 the horse showing good gate-speed to lead the field up, withstanding a game bid from Kensi in the straight to score by a length. Sunshine Moment is out of the 1-win mare in Fleeting Moment (Falcon Seelster) a mother who has an enviable record as a broodmare – Sunshine Moment is the 7^th of her progeny to win and maintains a 100% winners / foals raced record for the mare. Other notable performers in the family include Bennyandthejets (2 wins) Gotta Moment (20 wins) and Lincoln Moment (5 wins)

Terra Sancta (Sportswriter – Magic Terror) Putting in some mighty efforts of late, Terra Sancta always looked capable of winning races and, for the faithful followers, the daughter of Sportwriter delivered at Cromwell. After finding the front Matthew Williamson took a mid-race sit behind the Nathan Williamson trained Ultimate Weapon before finding a late burst once reaching open air mid-straight to claim the victory late.  Mother Magic Terror was unraced but has left the Raging Bull colt in Terrortorial (2 wins)

Cambridge 23^rd

Hillbilly Blues (What The Hill – Experiment) An impressive debut winner. Hillbilly Blues, a strapping son of What The Hill, led the chase behind runaway leader in Itbettorbenow to score well in the first of the night at Cambridge, beating out race winners from a front mark. There certainly looks to be plenty of potential in this squaregaiter. Hillbilly Blues is the first winner out of the tough mare in Experiment (Sundon) an 8-time winner.

Molly Belwin  (Art Major – Molly Fever) A winning fever swept over this runner on Friday. After some middling efforts in her first 6 raceday appearances, Molly Belwin proved too slick for race rivals in the 2^nd of the night, sweeping into things from a nice 1/1 sit to score by 1/2 a length at the line from a game Sheza Mermaid. While Dam Molly Fever was unraced Molly Darling, granddam to Molly Belwin, was a sensation, winning at Gr1 level when defeating Mainland Banner in the Nevele R Fillies Series Final of 2005, that victory came after prevailing in the Caduceus Club Fillies Classic the previous year.

Molly Belwin carries the blood of the impressive Molly Darling

Great White (Vincent(AUS) – Honey Rose Falcon) Home by the skin of a shark tooth. Making up one half of the Herlihy quinella in race three of the night, Great White was impressive on debut, leading up and finding enough to see of the stablemate Roy Kent. The son of Vincent had picked up a trial win on the 6^th of February and had been favoured to take out the event. Dam Honey Rose Falcon won 8 from 39, running 4^th in the Gr1 Wayne Francis Memorial NZ Oaks of 2009 behind the great Lauraella.

Precious Bet (Bettor’s Delight – Precious Rose) The consistent form of Precious Bet now has a 1 in the win column. After some sound efforts in August of 2023, Precious Bet found winning form at the first start of 2024, scampering away in 2.42.6 to win a close call over the 2200m mobile event after sitting in the tail for much of the race.  Precious Bet is the second winner from dam Precious Rose (winner of the Gr2 Delightful Lady Classic of 2011 when beating out Living The Dream) the other being the bettor’s Delight filly in Precious Belle (4 wins)

Ashburton 24th

Wudabubbit (Used To Me-Piri Piri) Improving type Wudabubbit followed up a nice 3^rd behind Edward Hill last start to score in the first of the day at Ashburton. After finding an early lead the daughter of Used To Me suffered mid-race pressure from the Stormont trained Hayley Mhor but kicked clear nicely over the concluding stages to win by a comfortable margin. Wudabubbit is the first foal out of Piri Piri, a race winner herself and daughter to the impressive performer in Biddy Bid.

Kawatiri Creek (Bettor’s Delight-Christian Creek) The mile and the #1 draw proved the winning race conditions for the well-performed Kawatiri Creek. At times luckless in recent starts, Ricky May got the best out of the daughter of Bettor’s Delight to snare the maiden victory at start #12. The victory followed on from a strong 2^nd at Hororata on the 11^th of February and a final furlong burst of speed for third on the 6^th at Amberley. Kawatiri Creek is royally bred – Wainui Creek, the Gr1 winner of the NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes of 2020, is a full sister while Cheddar Valley, a now 13-time winner by Betterthancheddar, is also a relation. The impressive Harnett’s Creek (13 wins) and Swan Creek (8 wins) are also to be found in this family. With this sort of blooding running through her veins you could have confidence that this maiden win will not be the last for Kawatiri Creek.

Kawatiri Creek is a full sister to the Gr1 winner Wainui Creek 

Masterlou (Sweet Lou-Can’t Teach That) Finding plenty of space up the big straight at Ashburton, Master Lou fought things out with Hughes To Me and Cheeky Red to capture a win in the 3^rd on the card. The win coming off a strong second behind Spirited Lou on the 16^th of February at Addington.  Masterlou is the second winner left by the Bettor’s Delight mare in Can’t Teach That.

Indiana Arden (Panspacificflight-Southwind Arden) Scoring at 10/1 in the 4^th of day, Indiana Arden secured a nice win for the Hayden Cullen stable. The win coming at race start #3 and some improving recent trial efforts. Indiana Arden is out of a smart mare in Southwind Arden whose progeny includes the open-class pacer in South Coast Arden, the winner of the NZ Pacing FFA, and the Harness Jewels 4YO Emerald of 2021. Given the history of winning in this family Indiana Arden could well prove a valuable broodmare in the future.

Wyndham 25^th

Portelli (Majestic Son – Going Alone) Manners make for winning turns when it comes to the trots and that’s exactly what happened on Sunday for Kim Butt and Portelli. The son of Majestic Son holding on from a leading position to score in a close finish over Dignify. After showing consistent form over the Marlborough circuit two consecutive 8ths meant the punters let Portelli go with the winner paying 13/1. The 8-time winner Break free (Revenue) and the 7-time winner in Ado’s Angel (Chiola Hanover) are both out of the dam in Going Alone.

Breeny’s Rock N Roll (Rock N Roll Heaven – Breeny’s Passion) Scoring by the barest of margins in the 2^nd of the day, Breeny’s Rock N Roll pounced from a 1/1 sit to score in 2.16.9 over the 1800m mobile event. The win coming after placings at both Winton on the 14^th of December, and Wairio on the 11^th of February.

Bismarck Du Plessis (Always B Miki – Beaudiene Firefly) The impressive son of Always B Miki improved again on Sunday, taking out his maiden at race start #3. After a brace of 3rds in his first two appearances Blair Orange put Bismarck Du Plessis into the race early and obtained a 1/1 sit late, from which the son of Always B Miki proved too strong for race rivals, winning in a time of 2.14.7 over the 1800m mobile. Bismarck Du Pelssis is the first NZ winner for dam Beaudiene Firefly.

Cambridge 25^th 

Itbettorbenow  (Majestic Son – Itsnowornever) After setting a grand pace and being run down on the 23^rd to being the victor a couple of days later! Facing rivals off the 30m mark handicaps proved no trouble for the son of Majestic Son, once again striding out to a big lead early and being able to kick strongly enough to see out the trip. Itbettorbenow is the first foal and winner out of the Monarchy mare in Itsnowornever

Pandora (Downbytheseaside – Spirit Of Eros) Another impressive winner out of the Herlihy barn, Pandora brought up her maiden win at start #5 after some consistent efforts in her first 4 raceday appearances. An early move to the lead proving enough to see off the late challenge from Dom Toretto. Pandora can call upon plenty of winning family history for inspiration – Spirit And Desire (14 wins) Bettor Spirits (14 wins) Spirit Of Anzac (14 wins) and Double Rocket (6 wins) are all progeny of mother Spirit Of Eros.

Pandora is the most recent impressive winner from dam Spirit Of Eros

By Harnesslink Media