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!

Amberley 6^th February

Royal Yankee (Royal Aspirations – Dandy Diedre) The great run of sire Royal Aspirations continued on Tuesday when Royal Yankee took out the first on the card. Improving runs in last two efforts meant the Fletcher trained runner was well found in betting markets. Settling in 4^th initially, Royal Yankee was taken to the parked position some 1000m out from home by driver James Stormont, from there he proved too strong for race rivals, winning in 2.37.6 over the 1950 distance. Royal Yankee is a brother to the 4-time winner in Royal Diedre.

Louie Vista (Sweet Lou – Belle Vista) Punching through to enjoy a run in the trail throughout the running of the second, Louie Vista found enough to deny the tough Ocean Breeze late to capture a maiden win at start #11. Dam Belle Vista won 4 herself while also leaving race winners Beau Vista, (Real Desire) Hot Flush (Bettor’s Delight) and Sonny Vista (American Ideal)

Anytme At All (Bettor’s Delight – Going To California) Continuing a great run of form for those out of the Barry Ward stable, Anytime At All proved too good in the 5^th of the day, scoring after making a mid-race move to the lead and then finding the trail behind Norwest Franco. A late outer surge enough to see the 4yr-old home by a little under a length. Anytime At All had previously placed in one of 9 race day appearances but had been up against Gr1 company on a number of occasions. Dam Going To California. A 6-time winner, has left the current 2-time winner in Old Time Rock N Roll as her first foal.

Anytime At All

Addington 9th February

Munroes’s Mate (Downbytheseaside – G B Blaze) Clearing maidens after producing some consistent results in his first three race day appearances, John Morrison and Munroe’s Mate showed intent off the mobile gate, unable to take the lead proper, a trail was good enough for the son of Downbytheseaside late with the 1980m mobile won in 2.27.7 with some even last sectionals. Munroe’s Mate is a first foal out of Dam G B Blaze while Granddam Okay Matao proved a class act out on the track, winning nine and placing in the Fillies Series Final of 1996 behind Party Party.

Alexandra Park 9th February

Dave Duley (Bettor’s Delight – No Liability) Getting things right in start #2., Dave Duley took care of his maiden rivals to score by the closest of margins in the second of the night. The Robert and Jenna Dunn trained runner, driven by John Dunn, swept to the lead a lap out and could never be reeled in, despite the efforts of the fast closing Shake A Leg who had given the leading position up with a lap to go. Out of a 5 race-winning mare, Dave Duley is a brother to the 3-time winner in Maid Of Money. Granddam, Smooth Asset, might be best known for leaving the impressive types in Smooth Mara (7 wins in NZ) and Monumental, a 14-time winner, with the majority of those victories coming on Australian soil. ‘

Father Barry (Father Patrick – Great Getaway) An impressive debut winner, Father Barry was installed race favourite coming into his first race day start, that fact obviously proving right on the mark as the J Dickie trained runner looked a good horse scoring well from the 1/1 late when untouched. The confidence in the ability could well stem from those that have gone before, Great Getaway proved herself time and again on the track, winning some 10 races including the Gr3 Northern Trotting Breeders Stakes, she was also placed in the Harness Jewel 4YO Ruby of 2010, a race won by the great I Can Doosit. Other performers from the mare include Tricky Ricky (Muscle Hill) That’s What We Do (Love You) and Halberg (Father Patrick)

Father Barry

C U There (He’s Watching – All The Way Home ) Scoring well for the Derek Balle stable, C U There progressed from two 2^nd place finishes in his last two starts to score in the 4^th of the night. C U There is related to the successful Majestic Kiwi (18 wins) and Kiwi Ideal, a real flyer and winner of some $400’000 in career earnings.

Hororata 11th February

Ocean Breeze (Downbytheseaside – Zena’s Star) Showing a continuation of some improving form, Ocean Breeze was stoked up from the mobile arm to lead the maiden field around in the first of the day at Mount Harding, putting the speed on down the back straight Ocean Breeze fought off a late bid from Alta Showgirl to claim a tough-fought victory. Ocean Breeze is the first winner out of the Bettor’s Delight mare in Zena’s Star.

One El (Love You – Luminosity) The Hutton trained trotter simply outlasted race rivals after sitting parked for the entire race. The victory coming after showing ability in its 20 previous starts – 6 of which had finished with placings for the son of Love You. Dam Luminosity also raced out of the Hutton stable, winning 4 races in her 64 race day appearances.

Amazing Tom (Art Major – Tipsy Too) Amazing Tom at, what looked like on paper, amazing odds. The Grant Payne trained runner went under the radar on the tote and at start time was one of the outsiders of the 8-horse field. The parked-out running position didn’t deter the final, decisive effort either, with the son of Art Major never letting things go in the run to the line. The win coming over the fast-finishing Pioneer. Dam Tipsy Too was unraced but comes from a strong dam-line which includes Dontdrinkthendrive, a 4-time race winner and mother to a star in Sheeza GNP (30 wins)

Gem N Em (Sweet Lou – Lively Kamwood) Making the most of the #1 draw, Gem N Em and Sam Thornley kept the pace on throughout the 1600m mobile event, tactics that proved winning ones with the 2.00.2 time enough to see a strong 5 length win posted over race rivals. The win came off the back of an improving 4^th at the Amberley meeting on the 6^th of February. The win continues good recent returns from the broodmare Lively Kamwood with Kikorangi Blue (Betterthancheddar) also from the dam.

Wairio 11^th February

Ukraine (Captain Crunch – Back In The USSR) A winning debut for a colt full of fight, Ukraine impressed winning the 1^st of the day at Wairio. The son of Captain Crunch looked like a star in the making, peeling from his 1/1 sit with 500m to go and mounting a charge at the leader Music Mistress. The horse clearly has the potential to go on things given the nature of the victory. Dizzy Miss Lizzy, the Gr1 winner of the Harness Jewels 2YO Diamond of 2017, and Lady Madonna, a 7-time race winner, are both out of dam Back In The USSR.

Ukraine

Our Superfund (Superfast Stuart – Majestic Dream) Scoring a most impressive victory by some 7 lengths, Our Superfund, trained by Stephen Balloch, brought the manners to Wairio and showed his real ability when winning going away from his race rivals. The 6yr-old was having his third race day start after efforts at Winton and Invercargill. The win makes it two winners from two foals for the Majestic Son mare in Whispering Dream. Our Superfund is a brother to the race-winning Swift Dream – also a son of Superfast Stuart.

Gunner Andy (Sportswriter – Phantom Menace) Benefiting from a late gallop by race leader Kashi, Gunner Andy captured his first race day victory at start number 11. The son of Sportswriter had been stringing together an improving formline prior to the win with placings at both Gore and Central Otago within the last 6 weeks. Nicely bred, Gunner Andy is out of the class racing mare in Phantom Menace, a daughter of Holmes Hanover who raced behind the likes of Coburg and Joyfulbelle in Group racing affairs of the early 2000’s.

Zamperini (Sweet Lou – Glenburn Joy) Striding out like Louis Zamperini himself, the second start win from this son of Sweet Lou could be a sign of things to come. Having to do things tough from parked out for much of the race, Zamperini took the shortcuts late to secure the win via the passing lane with the win over the 2400m mobile coming up in 3.00.9. There’s plenty to like about the breeding behind the winner too, Dam Glenburn Joy (American Ideal) is a close relation to racetrack performers like Smokin Annie (10 wins) The Honey Badger (3 wins) and the most impressive Boots Electric, now a Gr1 winner in Australia having captured the 4YO Bonanza at Melton alongside the Gr3 Cobram Pacing Cup and Gr2 Caduceus Classic titles.

Zamperlini