Clearing maidens – The power of Pride Of Petite and Under Cover Lover back on track

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 20^th March 

Rubira (Always B Miki – Delightful Kas) A victory in a two horse field is still a victory. An official win on debut, Rubira had to prove his ability when pacing a slick enough 2.25.3 over the 1980m mobile to master the brave Got The Chocolates. B Orange claiming the Robert and Jenna Dunn trained runner by some 3/4 length at the post. Rubira is the first out of Delightful Kas (Bettor’s Delight)

Florence The Machine (What The Hill-Petite Sunrise) Singing all the right notes in the second on the card was the Ross Houghton trained Florence The Machine. The win was a sound one after mixing it in group company in the North Island in December of last year – those runs coming after a consistent North Island formline under the guidance of Ross Paynter.

It’s no surprise Florence The Machine has ability when looking at the maternal line, dam Petite Sunrise won both the 2YO Ruby  and NZ Two-Year-Old Trotting Stakes of 2007 while grandam Pride Of Petite is one of the more celebrated performers of New Zealand trotting history, amassing some $800’000 in career earnings, trotting to new NZ records multiple times, and taking out some of the most prestigious races for squaregaiters, notably the City Of Sails Free-For-All and the Lyell Creek Stakes. It’s a royal family that now can add another winner to its history.

Florence The Machine brings some Pride Of Petite power to the track  

Cambridge 21st March

Lenny Lincoln (Vincent – Tristar Brigade) Saluting in the 4^th on the card at Cambridge, Lenny Lincoln secured his first win at start #9 – improving on mixed recent results.  Lenny Lincoln is out of the Mach Three mare in Tristar Brigade, who, as a mother, has also left the impressive Australian performer and Gr3 winner in Parmesan (Betterthancheddar)  alongside the 2 race winner in Borrisokane (Sportswriter) Fans will also know the exploits of Trigirl Brigade (7 wins) and Delight Brigade (13 wins) who are both out of Grandam Smithie’s Delight.

Lincoln La Moose (Art Major – Cullens Princess) Completing a strong night for the people at Lincoln Farms, Lincoln La Moose proved too strong in the last of the night, taking out the 2200m mobile event in a slick enough 2.42.62 to win by some 3 3/4 lengths. The debut win coming after a strong trial win on the 16^th of March.  Dam Cullens Princess has been a star performer of the broodmare paddock, leaving the now 9-time winner Gooddealehemily (American Ideal) as her first foal. The impressive Miki Montana, a Gr1 placed performer, is also out of the mare.

Addington 22nd March

Action Major (Art Major – Triple Sec) Progressing to his maiden victory after a sound run in a strong maiden field last week, Action Major handled the 2600m mobile well, heading to the lead early in the race and holding off the only real challenger in Remission to score nicely for G O’Reilly.  Dam Triple Sec was unraced but has left some speedy types including Our Triple Play (Shadow Play), a Gr2 and 3 winner in Australia, and Brittany Lane (Betterthancheddar) a 17-time winner.

Kairaki Confidential (Art Major – L A Confidential) A change in trainer and a change in racing fortunes. Kairaki Confidential impressed from the parked position to storm to a comfortable win in the 2^nd of the night at Addington. The Dunn trained runner bringing up her maiden win at race start #3.  The win meaning that the dam is now a winner-leaving broodmare.

Grandam Under Cover Lover needs little introduction having set numerous NZ records and claimed racing features like the Fillies Series Final, the NZ Oaks, Great Northern Oaks and NZ Sires Stakes Fillies Championship. A fine mare that’s truly left her mark on the racing scene.

Kairaki Confidential immediately makes an impact for Dunn stable

Alexandra Park 22^nd March

Always B You (Always B Miki – Always For You) A big run from well off the speed to score. Always B You had to produce a good burst over the final stages in the second of the night at Alexandra Park to score. Shuffled off the speed the Tony Herlihy driven runner found the speed demanded to score over race rival Bobby Boy in a slick time of 2.41. It was the first win for the Dunn trained runner at start #9. Dam Always For You was unraced with the wider family including the very good Onlyforyou (9 wins) and Moments Like This (2 wins from 3 starts)

Youretheonethatiwant (Captaintreacherous – Splendid Me) Taking out the Young Guns 2YO series heat in the third of the night, the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan trained daughter of Captaintreacherous proved too strong down the middle of the track to take a tight decision from Won And Only. This is a great family that’s been doing a great job for some time now. Dam Splendid Me was unraced but grandam Splendid Dreams is the mother of the superstars Christen Me, Dream About Me and Hands Christian among others. It’ll be hard to find a better bred winner this week.

Youretheonethatiwant proves a young gun at Alexandra Park 

Cyclone Jordy (Art Major – Cyclone Kate) Leading up and running them ragged. Cyclone Jordy, sent out at around 8/1, proved too tough to catch in the Young Guns C&G heat. After a debut 5^th Cyclone Jordy made good on some of the strong family blood – his mother Cyclone Kate won 21 races, included in her haul were placings in both the Gr1 breeders Crown 2YO Fillies in 2014 and Queen of the Pacific in 2016, both efforts coming at Melton. Cyclone Jordy is a 1/2 brother to the 9-time winner in Cyclone Charlotte (Bettor’s Delight)

Waimate 24^th March

Living The Moment (Father Patrick – Any Moment Now) Any moment now she’ll win her maiden! And so it was, in the second of the day, Living The Moment become a race winner. Jonny Cox and Living The Moment proved too strong after a great mid-race sit in the trail throughout, a late burst enough to get past the race leader Penelope Hall, the win aided by some late gallops from both Forgiveness and the fast finishing Practical Magic. The now race winner is a full sister to Preacher’s Daughter and the 5-time winner from the Yesberg stable in Feel The Moment.

Resilient (Terror To Love – Woman In Black. A reliable and successful broodmare who continues to leave race winners. Resilient found late gaps up the passing lap to scorch through and secure the maiden win on debut in the 3^rd of the day at Oamaru. After some solid trial form the O’Reilly trained runner was sent out race favourite and duly delivered for punters, although the $2.30 was on the skinny side of things to win.

Dam Woman In Black had already left a number of known racetrack performers, notably Miss You (1.49.1USA) and Two Fiftyeight (1.53.8USA) Resilient is a full brother to the 4-time winner in Ifyousayso.

Resilient continues a strong run of success for the dam Woman In Black

Interpol (He’s Watching – Lillytomella) Once with Ivan Court, then Warren Stapleton, and finding the best form with Gavin Cook, Interpol produced a sound showing, taking out the 4^th of the day at odds of $4/1 in the hands of Sam Ottley. Interpol had previously been place on only one other occasion, that being last week when racing first-up for the new stable – it’s obviously been a change of environment that Interpol has agreed with.

By Harnesslink Media