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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!
Cambridge 20th June
Auctioneer (Orlando Vici – Nia) Another winner for the sire Orlando Vici. This Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett trained trotter took all the right steps at Cambridge on Thursday night, sprouting a pair of wings over the last 400m to master his race rivals and fight off the closing Predator to bring up his maiden victory at start #4. Dam Nia has already left the 4-time winner in Canskyfly (Monkey Bones) and the 2-time victor in Shesgold (Love You)
Auctioneer will be demanding a higher price after this impressive maiden win.
Major Major (Art Major – Miss Elsie) A winner out of star mare Miss Elsie, the Donnelly trained runner made the most of the #1 draw on Thursday night, running down race favourite Jahi in the run home to score in 2.45.8 over the 2200m mobile trip. The strong returns from Miss Elsie continue with the victory with other notable racetrack performers from the mare including the likes of Raukapuka Ruler (Bettor’s Delight), the Northern Derby winner of 2017, War Dan Delight (Bettor’s Delight), the Kindergarten Stakes victor from 2018, and Mr Mclaren (Mach Three) ,a now 10-time winner with most of the wins coming on Australian soil. Miss Elsie is obviously proving herself a major major mother!
Major Major winner!
Aldebaran Crystal (Father Patrick – Superbowlcheerleader) Another beautifully bred winner to come out of the Cambridge meeting. The Wallis & Hackett team may well have unearthed another exciting prospect in the form of Aldebaran Crystal. Showing a great turn of hoof from the 300m, Aldebaran Crystal showed enough speed to usurp race leader Rise To The Occasion in the run to the winning post, scoring by a little under a length in 2.54.5 – the win coming after some consistent efforts of late. Dam Superbowlcheerleader won plenty, ending her career with 10 wins including a notable victory in the Gr1 Anzac Cup of 2014 when beating out Zedalite and Cool Cobber. Her progeny includes the 6-time winner in Verry Cheerful.
Addington 21st June
Watching Brief (He’s Watching – Sue Me) We’ll be hearing a little bit more about this son of He’s Watching if the maiden victory is any indication of what’s to come. Arriving at Addington with a strong team, John Morrison spent no time waiting around to impress on Friday night, the strong nature of the debut win, coming at the expense of a competitive maiden field, suggesting a big future for Watching Brief. The damline involved here is known to produce some excellent racetrack performers, Little Miss Me (Nero’s B B) producing the stylish Pic Me Pockets, a star of the track in the last 1990’s while Come Holme With Me also impressed, winning 6 before being exported to North America.
Watching Brief scores powerfully at Addington
Reklaws Dream (Bettor’s Delight – Reklaw’s Gem) If you get sent out at $1.40 then the pressure is on to deliver – and Reklaws Dream did just that in the 4th of the night from Addington. The B Butt trained filly outlasting the closing Heaven’s Mark to score in her second race start. The win came off some impressive trial efforts in the last couple of weeks – hence the short quote on the tote. Reklaw’s Dream is a full sister to the smart Tempting Tigress, a Gr2 winner, scoring in the Tatlow Stakes at Melton in 2022.
Aretha (Fear The Dragon – Zoetica) Up from the South and scoring impressively. Aretha, in her second race day start, made the most of a trail position to score via a passing lane bid to upset the race favourite Always Impressive in a sprint to the line. The win coming up after a debut 3rd at Invercargill on the 7th of June. The win adds to the tally of victors by Fear The Dragon with Macca Lodge supporting the sire with winner Dragon Power also among his progeny.
Forbury Park 22nd June
Hammer Down (Always B Miki – Operative Asset) A well named maiden victor – he sure knows how to put the hammer down this son of Always B Miki. The Nathan Williamson trained juvenile impressed in the first of the day, upstaging seasoned campaigners to score on debut in fine style over the mile. A big future seems a distinct possibility if you look into the history behind the breed. Dam Operative Asset was unraced but has been leaving some wonderful performers as a mother, her progeny including the likes of the 5-time winner in Citylight (Christian Cullen) Belkmyster (Mach Three) 11 wins, Takutimu Express (Mach Three) who also mustered 11 victories, and Im Jimmy James (Big Jim) the winner of some 15 races. All things considered it will be hard to back against Hammer Down winning plenty more in the future.
Hammer Down, a slick juvenile out of the Williamson stable, scores impressively on debut
Artmore (Art Major – Neverbettor) Artmore found a little bit more in the second of the day at Wyndham, managing a deserved maiden win at decent odds when piloted by Hayden Douglas. While it took a little time for the Douglas trained runner to break through there had been signs of ability in the past, a number of minor placings being achieved before the race win at start #18. Artmore makes dam Neverbettor a winning broodmare with the winner being her first foal.
Addington 23rd June
Fear And Faith (Father Patrick – Never Fear) Just when you thought the week couldn’t get any better for John Morrison Faith And Fear bolts down the outer of the Addington track to claim an impressive debut win. Fresh off an outstanding Friday night at Addington Fear And Faith trumped some strong recent trial and workout form to win the 5th on the card, the last furlong seeing a sharp sprint get the daughter of Father Patrick home over Penelope Hall and Five Monkeys. Dam Never Fear won 5 during her career and has since proven herself a fine mother too – her progeny including Almighty Fear, a 6-time winner and Fearless, a runner who went close to a victory on Friday night when beaten narrowly by Here Comes Jane.
Fear And Faith comes from off the pace to win on debut on Sunday.
Patiro (Rock N Roll Heaven – Christian Seel) From chasing home Captain Kobe last week to being the one they all have to chase a week later. Patiro. Aided by a 3 wide cart into the race, showed enough grit and determination over the last furlong of the 1980m mobile contest, climbing over Wuhan in the shadows of the post to claim his maiden victory at start #15. The win means dam Christian Seel now has three winners to her name, Bettor Believe It and Great Presence, both by Bettor’s Delight, have both won races themselves.
By Harnesslink Media
