Clearing Maidens – Sons of Nearea Franco and Classical score in fine style

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!

Forbury at Oamaru 24^th

Tremendous Sensation (Betting Line – A New Sensation) An impressive new sensation in the 1^st of the day at Oamaru. After an early fight for leading positions Blair Orange had enough filly in front of him to score late on the lane with this daughter of Betting Line.  The win topped off consistent workout and trial results in recent weeks. The overall time was smart enough too, the 200m mobile event won in 2.27.6. Dam A New Sensation has already proven her credentials as a broodmare of quality types – both Itz My Generation (17 wins) and The Dude (15 wins) have fallen in love with the winning post in Australia.

Wavewatcher  (Downbytheseaside – Lislady) The #1 draw proven golden for Wavewatcher in the last on the card at Oamaru, sneaking through on the passing lane and holding off challenges to post win number 1 at start number 20. The 4yr-old has been an interesting watch throughout his racing career, the ability has obviously always been there with some promising enough efforts and results at Oamaru being interspersed with some indifferent efforts when racing elsewhere. Wavewatcher is out of the impressive broodmare in Lislady, a mare that’s been able to leave My Casino Belle (a group 3 winner in Australia) and the 1.51.8 pacer in the USA in Best Shot. If you wander back through the family you’ll stumble across the sire Albert Albert and the 19-time winner in Lisharry NZ.

Addington 26^th

Orlando Express  (Orlando Vici – Chevron Express) It was a case of all aboard the Orlando Express on Friday as the 4yr-old gelding greeted the judge for the first time in 7 starts.  The Cran & Chrissie Dalgety trained runner was driven forward from the gate and dictated terms from 1300m out  from home to score a comfortable 2 length victory over the Sam Payne trained Top Of The Hill. Dam Chevron Express was a star when racingas a three-year-old, winning 6 races including the Gr3 Hambletonian over Muscles Galore, and the Gr2 New Zealand Trotting Oaks over Regal Love.

Bryson Dechambeau (American Ideal – Classical) A birdie at the first. Bryson Dechambeau looked like a nice prospect in the making when winning his maiden well after finding the front on Friday night, seeing off a late challenge from Misty Blue to score in 2.28.7. The debut win continues a winning run for dam Classical, a mare that’s left, among others, Absolute Classic (7 wins) Sonic Classic (24 wins, Gr3 placed) Show Heeza Classic (10 wins) and Major Classic (9 wins) there’s also Hot Off The Press, herself a mother to the impressive Australian in Madam Publisher (3 starts, 2 wins)

Bryson Dechambeau video 

Scarlett’s Legacy (Vincent(AUS) – Scarlett Banner) Scoring a maiden victory after threatening to do so for some time, Scarlett’s Legacy, drawn the #1, always travelled like she had a little to offer, a drastic change of direction at the top of the straight found clear air for the daughter of Vincent to operate in with a strong last burst being enough to see the G Smith runner home in the 6th race on the Addington card. The overall time for the event was 2.28.9 for the 1980m mobile race.  Scarlett’s Legacy is out of the good race mare in Scarlett Banner with Scarlett’s Legacy being her only foal. Granddam Surf And Sand has left the trotting Cody Banner (9 wins) and the pacing Hampton Banner – a Gr2 and Gr3 placed son of Bettor’s Delight.

Alexandra Park 26^th

Potter (Sweet Lou – Sauchiehall) Deemed to be the leading chance in race 3 on the card on Friday night, Potter lived up to that label, scoring well in 1.58.6 over the mile distance. Early speed meant Potter led the field throughout, dictating terms and holding off a challenge from Dom Toretto at the 400m mark and a late burst from Shake A Leg to score at a short $2.20 quote. Potter is a first foal out of Sauchiehall, a 5-time winner by Gotta Go Cullen.

Ultimate Racy Girl  (Ultimate Machete – Motu Racy Girl) Proving herself to be just as her name would suggest, Ultimate Racy Girl scored her maiden victory on Friday night after 7 previous attempts. The mile victory coming up in a time of 2.01.4. Ultimate Racy Girl has previously been placed in the Harness Million 2yo Fillies at Listed level, and the Caduceus Club 2yo Fillies Classic, so it would have coming as no surprise to most to see her pass maidens in fine style. Dam Motu Racy Girl has proven herself a fine broodmare, leaving the impressive Vanquished (1.49.1 USA) Motu Hot Topic (5 wins) and Miss Hartley (10 wins)

Ultimate Racy Girl video 

Methven January 28th

Brianna (Pegasus Spur – Cathy Combo) Scoring a maiden victory at start #31, the David McCormick trained runner had always threatened to win a race, producing a number of minor placings over recent weeks to hint that a victory wasn’t too far away. Manners, once again, proved the difference in the maiden trot with the first three home the first three to get away and obtain the forward positions. Brianna made the most of a trip in the trail for the last lap, finding enough when peeling at the top of the straight to master the Mark Jones trained Kowhai Summit in the shadows of the post. Brianna is out of the Brylin Boyz sired Cathy Combo, a 4-time winner herself.

Mister Blue Sky (Sunshine Beach – Alright Now) A maiden winner a big odds, Mister Blue Sky scored a late passing lane victory over Victor Lustig in the 2^nd of the day – it was the 30^th race day appearance for the son of Sunshine Beach. Showing intent from the mobile arm ,Sam Thornley drove Mister Blue Sky forward from the #4 draw, taking a trail behind Dean James for much of the race, a late inner run proving enough to score at 32/1. Mister Blue Sky  raced extensively as a 3yr-old, returning 3 minor placings from 21 starts. Mister Blue Sky is out of Alright Now, mother of the impressive My Ultimate Fella (Changeover) who pieced together 17 wins, initially racing in New Zealand before performing admirably on Australian soil.

Franco Newport (Bettor’s Delight – Nearea Franco) Possibly the best bred maiden winner we cover this week, Franco Newport won his maiden well after an unsuccessful lead bid down the back straight left him out parked on a genuine mid-race speed. Bids from Festus Haggen and Racingmissgracie were seen off in the run home. Dam Nearea Franco, a celebrated Harness Jewels and Queen Of Hearts victor, has proven a successful broodmare, leaving millionaire Nike Franco as her first foal. Naiya Franco (3 wins) is also out of the mare, while the well-performed Shan Noble (7 wins) is a full brother to Franco Newport.

Franco Newport video 

Riverton January 28^th

Rotten Rodden (Bettor’s Delight – Caballo Blanco) In an incident-laden race, Rotten Rodden, leading all the way, proved one of the ones still standing, winning his maiden in 2.41.8 over the 1940m mobile trip. The win coming up at his 15^th race day appearance. Rotten Rodden had previously produced a 3^rd at Winton on the 10^th of January. A full brother, Scruffy, is also a winner, while granddam, Love The Look, has left the classy Just A Delight (Bettor’s Delight) who won just under 1/2 a million dollars including a Listed feature.

Get Along (Father Patrick – Moment Of Beauty) Get Along got along just fine with the Riverton surrounds, making it win #1 at start #11 on Sunday. The son of Father Patrick was away well from his #1 draw, taking a trail for much of the race and finding enough on the passing lane to master race leader Dignify, scoring well for Craig Ferguson. Get Along is a first foal out of the unraced Moment Of Beauty. Macca Lodge have since employed the services of En Solitaire for the mare.

Pounamu (Washington VC – Bryleigh Jewel) Maiden victories seldom look as easy as this one. The Brett Gray trained Pounama cleared out over the concluding stages to win his maiden by some 8 lengths in the third of the day. Leading for much of the race Pounama covered the last 400m on the grass in 29.5, steaming away to score in the hands of Nathan Williamson. Pounamu is out of the race winning mare in Bryleigh Jewel, mother to the Listed Classic winner in Eureka NZ.

Pounamu video  

Bridget Louise (A Rocknroll Dance – Beckinsale) Possibly one to watch, scoring at start #2, is Bridget Louise. A daughter of A Rocknroll Dance, Bridget Louise made the most of a cold run in transit from the #1 draw, finding gaps late to score well.  The win came after a debut 7^th at Winton on the 10^th of January.  Dam Beckinsale won some 10 races, making an appearance in the 4yr-old Harness Jewels Diamond feature of 2014, a race won by Adore Me.

We’ll be back with more Clearing Maidens winners next week. 

By Harnesslink Media