Jewels colours to the fore

The bright yellow jewels colour came to the fore at Alexandra Park tonight, with 4 winners from 5. Worn by Habibi Inta, Marcoola, Spanish Armada, Field Marshal and Monbet the colours represent the current jewels leader for each category.

Habibi Inta, racing the older horses for the first time, missed away early but was seen storming home for a handy 6^th.

Legendary trotting trainer Paul Nairn obviously brought her north for a learning curve, and with that run under her belt she is sure to improve.

While Habibi Inta couldn’t salute the judge it was the wins of the remaining 4 Jewels leaders that left many speechless.

First up was future top line trotter Marcoola, a recent winner of the NZ Trotting Derby at Addington earlier this month Punters sent the son of Sundon out a $3.70 second favourite for co owner and driver Clint Ford.

His win in tonight's Lone Star Riccarton Sire Stakes Trotting Champs, a $55,000 Group 2 race for 3yo trotters over 2200m was sensational.

After the early sensation of fancied runners, Wilma’s Mate and High Gait both galloping within the first 200m of the race, Ford, who had taken hold of his charge after the start, soon found himself outside the leader Conon Bridge.

While content to sit parked, Clint let the jewels favourite roll down the back, cutting the back straight quarter out in 28.5.

With Conon Bridge under pressure at the 400m, Marcoola kicked clear on the turn and while the McCaffrey/Paynter trained Lemond put up an impressive performance to close the winning margin to ¾ of a length, Ford looked to have plenty left in the tank.

It’s a welcome boost for co owner and trainer Ken Ford, who is recovering from multiple broken ribs after being injured in a training accident last week.

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Jean Feiss has another talented horse in smart 2yo Filly Spanish Armada.

Trained by the powerful Purdon/Rasmussen stable, Spanish Armada has put together a handy record.

A winner of 4 from just the 5 starts including the Group2 Young Guns Delightful Lady Classic back in early March, the Bettor’s Delight filly again showcased her talent with a NZ Record performance to win tonight’s Caduceus Club Classic, a $113,000 Group 1 event for 2yo Fillies.

The time of 2-41.9 for the 2200m shaved 0.8 seconds of the previous record held by God Forbid and Megaera, who both ran 2-42.7.

Tucked away 3 back the fence early after starting from the inside of second row, Spanish Armada looked in a world of trouble when she was then pushed 4 back with the lead changing hands.

But with the speed going on upfront, the gaps started to open and driver Natalie Rasmussen was able to push out and grab the back of the well supported Delightful Memphis who was launching a brave effort out 3 and 4 wide after being caught 3 wide for the first 600m of the race.

5 wide on the turn and giving the leaders 5 lengths,  Spanish Armada produced a lethal sprint to win comfortably , with 5 ½ lengths the margin to Smiley Sophie in 2^nd with another 1 ¾ lengths to Renske B in 3^rd.

Andrew Fitzgerald