Clearing Maidens – The grass track love affair continues for Mary Niven

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’re all got one thing in common now – they’re race winners!

Cambridge 24th December

Pat Yates (Father Patrick – Majestic One) A slightly early Christmas present for the Herlihy barn and connections of this trotting filly. Pat Yates now has a win next to her two minor placings, winning well in the first of the day out of Cambridge on Tuesday. The win was secured with early manners with Tony Cameron securing a trailing position throughout the running, finding enough up the passing lane late to win by a little over a head at the line.

Dam Majestic One was a star performer winning 14 times during a 94 start career. As a broodmare she’s now off the mark, Pat Yates being her first foal.

Pat Yates scores up the passing lane at Cambridge

Cheer The Captain (Captaintreacherous – Cheer The Lady) A celebrated damline scores another impressive juvenile winner.

Cheer The Captain made it a winning debut on Tuesday, just seeing off Abman to score in 2.06.5 for the 1700 mobile event. This is a maternal line that’s been winning big races for some time – Cheer The Lady was victorious in the Gr1 New Zealand Oaks while grandam Galleons Cheer won 5 of her 9 career starts.

Lou Will (Sweet Lou – Rock N Roll) A change in scenery and a trip to the North Island seems to have done the trick for this son of Sweet Lou. Originally with the C McDowell stable Lou Will has thrived under the guidance of Tate Hopkins, winning his maiden for the stable in just his second start for the barn. The smart 2-length win added another win for the season for Carter Dalgety.

Lou will is the 3rd winner out of dam Rock N Roll, the best performer from those winners being the 7-time winner Airpark Flyer.

Lou Will wins well after finding a perfect trip in transit at Cambridge.

Westport 26th December

Kerrally (Quaker Jet – All Arguet) Making it a blowout in the 1st of the day was this 5yr-old mare by Quaker Jet. Robbie Close handled the mare to a victory at big odds over the 2600m standing start event, pouncing from a running line sit to score at 30/1 on the tote. The win came after some improving runs of late against the likes of Night Life on the grass of Banks Peninsula.

Stormy Vista (Sweet Lou– Belle Vista) Manners do win races and that cliche lived up to its reputation in the 2nd of the day out of Westport with this M Jones runner making the most of a trip on the pegs and near the speed throughout the short distance stand event to score from a closing Red Wine Kisses.

Dam Belle Vista won 4 from 46 and has been a consistent broodmare, leaving 4 previous winners including the 3-time winner in Sonny Vista.

Rakero Chase (Bettor’s Delight – Ideal Legs) Another winner at decent odds came about in the 3rd of the day when this mare scored out of the Bamford stables. Rakero Chase had previously had 6 unsuccessful starts but saw off Interrorgator and Tasi Ahnau in the run to the line. The win continues a strong run for those with the Rakero name with Rakero Lightning winning at Rangiora not so long ago.

The Beach House (Luck Be Withyou – Kumara Beach) It’s a house party. The Beach House, Michael House and Wilson House all combined for a strong win at Westport. The effort was a good one too the Beach House sitting parked for much of the 2600m mobile event and still finding enough to kick for the victory over a tough last 400m. The Beach House was on debut with the win suggesting there could well be a few more wins in store. Notable performers from the maternal line include the 6-time winner Eleanor Roosevelt (Falcon Seelster).

The Beach House does things tough and wins on day one at Westport

Gore 27th December

Atalanta (Lather Up – Delightful Image) It’s another win for the B McIntyre stable with this daughter of Lather Up.Rated as one of the outsiders of the field, the juvenile, driven by J Cox, impressed at big odds,making a searching run from well back in the running line to gobble up the field over the final 400m. The nature of the win, with plenty of speed on show, could mean the best is yet to come from Atalanta.

Dam Delightful Image gets off the mark as a winning broodmare with the win. Grandam Imagine Me is the star of the maternal line, her career including a number of Gr1 placings.

Atalanta sweeps into things impressively at Gore

Zoom X (Bettor’s Delight – Uber Express) Zoom X went zooming on by race rivals at Gore, making the most of a good run near the speed to salute by a narrow margin in the 9th on the card. The win, as race favourite, came up after some strong efforts in good company recently with placings behind Bettor Go Vinnie and Miki B both achieved in weeks gone by.

Fans of Saveapatrol (Christian Cullen) and The Bus (Art Major) will know this family well, both being out of grandam Rondel Franco.

Westport 28th December

Geena’s Gift (Father Patrick – Geena’s Girl) Yet another winner on the West Coast circuit for Samantha Ottley, Geena’s Gift showed genuine improvement on a first day 5th to take out the first after receiving a nice run near the speed throughout the running of the 2600m standing start event, a late bid up the lane enough to win narrowly over the race leader in Signal Hill.

The Townley runner is the 1st winner out of Geena’s Girl

Geena’s Gift scores on Saturday at Patterson Park

Red Wine Kisses (Betterthancheddar – Highveiw Macushla) Denied by Stormy Vista on day one of the circuit, Red Wine Kisses proved the best horse in the race in the second of the day out of Westport, launching a 3-wide bid over the final 500m to score well over Stunna and Ambleside Drive. The filly is well enough bred too with dam Highview Macushla winning three herself while beind a full sister to the impressive Highview Badlands, a winner over $140’000 early the early 2000’s.

Francent (Vincent – Mary Niven) Mary Niven has a great record as a mother and, on Saturday, the history of winning surrounding the mare continued when Francent did things tough over the final circuit of the Wesport track and proved too good for race rivals in the 3rd of the day.

The 3yr-old filly joins Rocknroll Nevin (Rock N Roll Heaven) Queen Of Dance (A Rocknroll Dance) Songbird (Rock N Roll Heaven) and Killarney Dance (A Rocknroll Dance) as winners out of the mare.

Francent, a lovely looking filly, wins after mid-race work at Westport.

Brandi Snapp (Bettherthancheddar – Crystal Bromac)A touch disappointing for punters on day one of the circuit, Brandi Snapp bounced back and into winning form on day two, proving too slick from the front of the field over the 2600m mobile event. The Curtin trained runner saw off Moonlite and She’s A Major Act in the run to the line.

Brandi Snapp is the third individual winner out of Crystal Bromac, the others being Emmersyn Lee (Betterthancheddar) and Sarastota Sunset (Sunshine Beach).

Banks Peninsula 29th December

Lindy’s Rocket (Barcardi Lindy – Rocket) Winning well at the big meeting at Motukarara on Sunday, Lindy’s Rocket prevailed in a tight finish over stablemate Tessamae. John Dunn provided a confident steer, finding the trail with the Borcoskie runner and seeking a late bid via the inside of the Banks Peninsula track to score well.

Bad Habits (Lazarus – Real Wings) A flying finish on the back of some mid-race pressure. Bad Habits ,handled patiently by Robbie Close, showed he’s one for the future when producing a big run to take the second of the day out of Banks Peninsula. The 3yr-old gelding by Lazarus snaring a big win from last to score at 6/1 over Echappe and Lasa.

Bad Habits had previously placed behind Black Billie Gee and Reklaws Dream. The family is a good one with the damline tracing back to Tuapeka Dream, mother to Tuapeka Knight who won 12 from 14.

Bad Habits makes ground to score at Banks Peninsula

Justa Terra (Terror To Love – Just Rose) Another win for the inform Samantha Ottley, Justa Terra showed plenty of speed late in the 3rd out of Banks Peninsula, mounting an effort from an inside run throughout the 2170m standing start event to catch the leaders over the final furlong.

Justa Terra is out Just Rose with her best performers being Here’s Herbie and Heza Sport, both progressive types making their way towards open class.

Nasana (Bettor’s Delight – Nakuru) Finding conditions to suit in the 4th out of Banks Peninsula, Nasana proved the best of an even bunch of juveniles in the 4th of the day, the Greg Payne lifting after a move to parked midway through the race to put in a tough effort over the final furlong to score over Alwaysbetrevy and Bettor Be Quick. Nasana is the first winner out of Nakuru (Mach Three)

Nasana digs deep to win the 2yr-old race at Banks.

by Harnesslink Media