Nige Lands Kaka Point Christy (Sunday 30th May 2010)
By Bruce Stewart
On Friday night reinsman Nigel Milne drove in a $100,000.00 group one event in Australia. Just two days later he was driving for his father in a $5,000 maiden event at Winton.
The oldest son of Southland trainer Alex Milne drove three horses, including winner Kaka Point Christy at the Winton meeting today. He returns to Melbourne tomorrow.
"We had a bit of bad luck with the weather. We flew into Christchurch yesterday morning and had to travel through the Lindis (Pass) so it was an eight and a half hour drive home."
Prior to his homecoming, Milne drove Hilton Bromac in Friday night's Vicbred Super Sires Stakes Final for three year old fillies at Tabcorp Park. The Rustler Hanover filly finished sixth after leading early. Milne has won four races on her from seventeen starts.
Kaka Point Christy is owned by Jean Blomham and Nigel's mother Karen and is trained by Alex at Edendale.
"She's taken a while to come to it but lately she's made good progress. We could have easily given up on her. She was a bad driving horse and didn't have a nice temperment but this family is late maturing so you just have to wait. In her first two starts she raced erratically but was running on, so I'm not surprised that she went good today," said Alex Milne.
From a second line draw the Courage Under Fire mare ended up at the back of the field but got a nice drag into the race on the back of Lady Gaga with 1200 metres to run.
Milne let her loose at the top of the straight and she won easily by one and three quarter lengths from Christian Brother and Lady Gaga.
"The race panned out pretty well. We got a three wide cart up, she felt tremendous coming into the final bend and it was just a matter of pulling out and letting her go, and she let down really well."
Nigel Milne and Kaka Point Christy - James Jubb
This was 33 year old Nigel's first win in New Zealand. He was initially licensed to drive in Australia after quitting his job at the Freezing Works and leaving New Zealand six years ago.
Milne works for Doreen trainer Craig Turnbull in the mornings and drives as a free lance driver in the afternoons which requires plenty of travelling.
"The closest meeting is 40 minutes away and the furtherest is six and a half hours. You're probably doing six meetings a week. I've just bought a new car and it's got 45,000ks on the clock in four months."
Meanwhile Winton based reinsman, Jonny Cox is heading to Australia on Wednesday for six weeks and linking up with Lance Justice's stable.
Charlie Comes In From The Wet (Sunday 30th May 2010)
By Bruce Stewart
Winton trainer Lauren Pearson has only had Akaroa Charlie for two starts and she can thank the bad weather for that.
The Badlands Hanover gelding qualified for Glenorchy trainer Martin Buckley at Wyndham in December before starting four times from that stable.
"Martin rang up two weeks ago and asked if we could take him because they were under water in Glenorchy. He had to take his horses to Cromwell to work. It was just getting too much and they were missing too many days work so we got Akaroa Charlie and Fivestar Blue Jean to train," she said.
Pearson is unsure of how long the five year old will stay in the stable. He may either return to Glenorchy, or be sold.
"He's a big dumb bugger but I think he'll get better. He showed a bit of speed today so we're heading to Forbury on Thursday night. I do think he'll compete in the C1 grade."
Akaroa Charlie is closely related to Whale Of A Tale - the winner of nine races for Winton trainer Ken Dixon.
Akaroa Charlie and Brent Barclay - James Jubb
Pearson produced another winner later in the day when Montecregle easily won the Abbey Smith Mobile Pace beating Marcus Aurelius by three and a half lengths.
"Win loss or draw today he's going to be turned out and both he and Georgia Jazz will make nice four year olds next season."
A Sonny Day (Saturday 22nd May 20100
By Bruce Stewart
It's been close to twenty four years since Invercargill trainer Sonny Palmer has owned a winner but his faith in Run Courage Run never waned.
The Courage Under Fire qualified for Palmer at Ascot Park as a two year old in May 2008 and had his first start six months later but was pulled up.
Mud rash problems then hindered his progress and his next start, under trainer Gil Shirley wasn't until eleven days ago when he ran a promising second behind Doves Patch at Winton. He was driven by Brent Shirley.
"I had him up until four weeks ago before I put him over to Brent's to give him more educating with other horses," said Palmer.
In today's 2200 metre CUE TV Mobile Pace, the four year old sped out from the gate to lead early before holding on gamely to beat Ringwraith by a neck.
Run Courage Run was bought for $8,000 at the 2007 Sale of the Stars when offered by Greg Brodie.
"I just liked the cut of him," said Palmer.
Palmer's last winner was Mix N Match at the Tuapeka meeting in November 1986.
He trained the Mister Hillas chestnut mare to win two races from thirty six starts. Her only other win was at the Riverton meeting in December 1985 when driven by Peter Barnes.
Those were the heady days when the club had an on-course licence only and the ten race card turned over $188,915.
Palmer is a key figure on trials and racedays operating the crash crew. He is also one of the founding members of the Invercargill workouts so there were plenty of congratulations for the hard working Palmer.
Brent Shirley returning with Run Courage Run - James Jubb
Barron Stable Bare (Saturday 22nd May 2010)
By Bruce Stewart
Plans are on hold for Tony Barron's quest to head north to Auckland with a small racing team.
In the past week the stable has sold three horses that were earmarked for the trip.
Deadly Tana, Winnies Central and Ophirs Dream have been sold in a package deal to Australian trainer Lance Justice who was in Southland recently.
"With Peter (co-owner Peter Marshall) and I having the 'Medley' breed tied up it's very important that they get to go to good trainers. We've got them into the good stable so if they can do the job, the family will kick on," said Barron.
Despite losing three promising horses Barron understands the commerical reality of racing and thinks all three will do a good job in Australia.
"If Winnies Central got back to the form he showed in Auckland, he should go well. He's a pretty smart horse. Ophirs Dream is a bit of an unknown. He's a Badlands (by sire Badlands Hanover) and just a bit funny but if he goes the right way he'll do a very good job. Deadly Tana goes over there on a very good mark. He's a very good front runner so that'll suit Lance."
Barron said the deal for Ophirs Dream was based around his age and the concessions available to three year olds.
"That was the key to the sale - being a three year old if he wins three or four races before August he comes back in September as a maiden because they're three year old wins."
Motu Young Jacob, Magnum Opus and Hanovers Patch are the remaining three in the team heading north.
Magnum Opus ran third today at Ascot Park and that run would be encouraging enough for her to go. The Christian Cullan mare won at Alexandra Park at the end of last season when part of the Barron northern team.
Trotter Motu Young Jacob races at Oamaru tomorrow and if he goes well it could be the clincher for the trip to go ahead.
"I've started to tighten the screws in the last three weeks and he's coming to where I want him. He just needs to harden up. He's just an immature boy who needs some tripping around and some racing, and he's going to get that shortly."
According to Barron he's one horse Marshall is keen to hold on to.
"It was a bit of a compromise. When we sold Winnies Central, Peter wanted to keep a trotter to race. He's two years away from reaching his potential, being by Armbro Invasion."
Wednesday 19th May - Gore Raceway - Gore
Qualifying Pace 2200 metres (required time 2-55.3)
Qualifers:
Sonjador – Murray Gray (3 yr old filly Christian Cullen – Zoe's Charm) 2-51.1
Pedigree notes: Out of a Life Sign half sister to Holmes DG (32 wins) and Giovanetto (18 wins).
Just Say The Word - Murray Gray (3 yr old filly Live Or Die - Just Say Hello) 2-51.2
Pedigree notes: Out of a 4 win OK Bye mare. Half sister to Highland Sting (2 wins) and Capeous (3 wins).
The Smiler – Hamish Hunter (3 yr old gelding Grinfromeartoear - Kurahaupo Flyer) 2-51.3
Pedigree notes: Out of a 3 win Holmes Hanover mare. A half sister to Kurahaupo Kruzar (7 wins).
Felix Denario - Hamish Hunter (3 yr old gelding Elsu - Campeche) 2-51.6
Pedigree notes: A half brother to Fake Denario (1-48.4 USA).
Trial notes:
Stablemates Just Say The Word and Sonjador were one two in the opening heat. Sonjador improved at the 400 metres and got up to beat Just Say The Word by a neck with The Smiler running on for third.
Qualifying Pace 2200 metres (required time 2-58.3)
Alert Agent – Bruce Wallace (3 yr old gelding Armbro Operative - Are You Watching) 2-53.4
Pedigree notes: Out of a half sister to Mythical (8 wins).
All For DB - Jack Lynch (4 yr old gelding Danny B - All For You) 2-54.7
Pedigree notes: Related to Godfrey (12 wins).
Trail notes:
All For DB lead early. Alert Agent was off at the 650 metre mark and won easily by six and a half lengths. He's a nice horse.
Qualifying Trot 2200 metres (required time 3-04.7)
Qualifiers:
Wazza Player - Alex Milne (4 yr old gelding Dr Ronerail - Last Game) 3-04.4
Pedigree notes: Out of a 6 win Game Pride mare.
Trail notes:
It was a faultless display by this well bred trotter who just ran within the required time.
Trot 2200 metres (Up to 1 win)
Trial notes:
Tony Barron gave Motu Young Jacob a good hit out. He lead all the way to beat Lets Play which closed well at the end.
Mobile Pace 2200 metres (non winners)
Trial notes:
Winner Bettys Icon settled third early. She sprinted from the 400 metres to beat Lafnatu which ran home along the passing lane. Oil Baron ran on for third.
Mobile Pace (1 to 2 wins)
Trial notes:
Reginaldo lead from Nottingham VC and Eurolocal. Nottingham VC proved too strong beating Reginaldo by a length.
Babe In Yellow (Sunday 2nd May 2010)
By Bruce Stewart
The next time Beaudiene Bad Babe races, driver Dexter Dunn will don the yellow Harness Jewels colours.
Yesterday's win in the Hecton Products Southland Country Cups Final took the Badlands Hanover mare to the top of the leader board for the $200,000. Harness Diamond for four year old mares and that means she gets to wear the yellow jersey.
The win was her sixth this season, the nineteenth in her career and she is now fast approaching a quarter of a million in stakes earned.
It's also likely that she will become Southland's 'winningest' horse in recent times. Roman Gladiator also won nineteen races over seven seasons of racing amassing $424,516.
In yesterday's $25,000. feature Beaudeine Bad Babe began well from the 30 metre mark but got back in the running before Norham Fella carted her forward with a lap to run. She was posted three wide from the 600 metres and had to sprint hard from the 400 metres to rein in Lord Forbes which had pinched a break at the turn. But Dunn was confident she was up to the task.
"Yeah I was. The way she's been going - she's really flying. She gives you the feeling that theres not much left but when you ask her to go she really goes."
The Badlands Hanover mare showed her true class reeling off a final quarter of 28.1 on a dead track. Best Legacy toughed it out for second ahead of a brave Lord Forbes.
"Murray's got her in good order. She's still got to improve her fitness but the 5th of June is our target. That's when we'll have her at full fitness."
Dunn has now driven the mare six times for four wins.
"She's the best mare I've ever driven and she's just getting better and better. Luckily I got to drive her for the season."
Easy as - Beaudiene Bad Babe winning the Country Cup Final - Tania Dickson Envious Photography
Murray Brown says Beaudiene Bad Babe will have her next start at Addington on May 15th (a 2600 metre Free for All) and then continue on to Auckland where she will be housed at Gareth Dixon's Clevedon stables.
Although there aren't any suitable races for her in Auckland, Brown will take her to the trials.
"There's plenty of tracks in Auckland. I hope everything sticks together this year because I think we've got a big show."
In each season she has raced Beaudiene Bad Babe has recorded four wins in a row; as a two year old in March/April 2008, a three year old in November/December 2008 and now as a four year old.
The man in the hat - they all want to shake his hand ! - Tania Dickson Envious Photography
Jamar Reins Suprem-acy (Sunday 2nd May 2010)
By Bruce Stewart
It was a plan that worked out perfectly.
When Franco Jamar won the Supremacy graduation series final at Winton in December, trainer Steve Dolan was keen to return to Southland and try to win the Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes.
But between his run at Winton and winning yesterday's Group Two feature there were some lessons to be learned by both trainer and driver Craig Thornley.
"After the Derby we realised that was the way to drive him - sit back on the rails. In the Flying Stakes we put him in the race and we had an over-inflated opinion of what we could achieve at that level," said Dolan.
When the barrier draws were released on Tuesday Dolan wasn't overly confident that he could get the thick end of the $50,000. stake.
"Craig and I agreed before the race that we were running for third; possibily second. As it turned out Captain Peacock had to do a little bit of work in front and got attacked. As soon as Craig got into the one one I was pretty confident."
Thornley was able to get off the running line when Kotare Mach improved to lead with 1200 metres to run. Franco Jamar lobbed the one one before coming off Captain Peacock's back to win by a half a length with Kotare Mach four lengths back in third.
The time of 3-23.6 was over four seconds outside of the race record of 3-19.1 posted last season by Highview Tommy.
Franco Jamar - Tania Dickson Envious Photography
It was Thornley's 54th winning drive of the season and 374th career win. He was full of praise of Dolan's management of the colt.
"I think his placement of the horse has been super. He bypassed the Auckland carnival and the Great Northern Derby just to concentrate on getting him down here."
The Courage Under Fire colt has now won eight of his sixteen starts banking $114,382. for owners Sheldon Murtha, Leanne Dolan, Paul Yesburg, Grant Adamson and Neville Paird. He still carries a C3 assessment and despite offers, Dolan says he's not on the market.
"No he's not for sale. The opportunity was there for someone to buy him but we got a couple of other owners involved. Both Sheldon and I thought he was pretty good. We decided we may not get a horse like this again so we said lets try and sell the slower one and keep the fastest one and take our chances."
Steve Dolan with the spoils - Tania Dickson Envious Photography
Franco Jamar will race next in the Harness Jewels and Dolan says there's a real possibility that the colt will race in the Breeders Crown in Australia.
"They race very hard (in Australia) and he loves following the speed. We'll just drive him cold over there and you might see him finish like Tintin In America did last year."
Meanwhile Winton trained Motu Crusader which ran fourth in the Supremacy, may have run his last race in New Zealand. www.southlandharness.co.nz understands he will be vetted next week and if he passes he'll be off to do his future racing in Australia.
The Royal Cee Cee Brand (Sunday 2nd May 2010)
By Bruce Stewart
In the final wash up Royal Cee Cee got to the front, dictated the terms and that was the winning of the 2010 Macca Lodge/Nevele R Southland Oaks Final at Ascot Park yesterday.
The Christian Cullen filly, driven astutely by trainer Michael House was able to get away with some soft middle sectionals before sprinting her last 800 metres in 58.3 - hanging her opposition out to dry, and winning by three lengths. Tres Bien Franco was second and the first Southland horse home was Chicago Blues at third.
It was the filly's fourth and most important win and took her stake winnings to $58,125. for owner Paul Brand of Pendarves.
Royal Cee Cee indicated that she was the filly to beat in the $50,000. feature, running a close second in a heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series at Addington last Friday.
"I threw her in last week a bit short. She hadn't raced for three and a half weeks. She had quite a tough run and she blew up over the back. She loffed on me because I hit her once at the 100 and she jammed her tail and I was really worried all week. I put the pop bands on her and I didn't do much work with her; training her like a thoroughbred." said House.
Royal Cee Cee - Tania Dickson Envious Photography
Although she lead and won the Oaks final, House thinks she's a better proposition coming from behind.
"Leading is not her go really. I think she'd be better chasing rather than leading. She just ambles along on a loose rein when she's leading and if someone came hard at her they would cross her."
House has always had a high opinion of the Christian Cullen filly and would have liked to have set her for a nice two year old ras but that plan had to change.
"When I qualified her in June as a two year old, beating the colts, I said to Paul this is a special horse. I told him that she was going out for a couple of months and we'd race her at two. I asked what (stakes) races he had nominated her for and he said nothing. So in June 2009 I knew what race we were going to try to win." (The Southland Oaks).
She won her first start at the Timaru meeting at Addington in December and according to House, Brand, who likes to take on the TAB, had a nice collect.
"I put her on the gate and she blew it open, lead and won easily. And single handidly, he (Brand) nearly made Addington broke for an hour."
Michael House - Tania Dickson Envious Photography
House and Brand have plotted the winning of the Southland Oaks since finishing third in the 1998 final with Luvyulindylu.
The Soky's Atom filly was owned by Brand and his late father.
"The sentimental part in this filly's win today is that she is out of full sister to Luvyulindylu. We lost her eight months after the Oaks when she had a reaction to penicillin and died. So I put the mare (Van Royal) back to Soky's Atom and got Royal Cee Cee's mother (Royal Van),"said Brand.
Brand is certainly having stacks of fun with the filly and points out that she has the pedigree to hopefully follow in the footsteps of the 2005 Southland Oaks winner Mainland Banner.
"Mainland Banner won this race and Royal Cee Cee is by the same cross - by Christian Cullen out of a Soky's Atom mare"
Paul Brand - Tania Dickson Envious Photography
The 'Brand Plan' now is to take Royal Cee Cee to Addington for the Nevele R Fillies Final and New Zealand Oaks before tackling the Harness Jewels at Cambridge. House is also considering racing the filly in Australia.
"Two weeks after the Jewels there's the Gold Coast Oaks. The week after that is the Queensland Oaks and two weeks after that it's the Australian Oaks. There are six really nice races for her if all goes to plan."
Cart Carnage In Race Six
The contrast between a normal racing cart and the damaged one can clearly be seen here. The crash occured in race six at Ascot Park yesterday. Here is the attached Stewards report.
With approx. 350m to run Alpine Andy (MP Jones) fell bringing down Storm Light (JR Dunn) and Shezza Duchess (AM Butt). Georgia Jazz was checked when forced to race wider and Felix Hanover (BM Norman) was badly checked resulting in the sulky collapsing. Capital Guest paced roughly in stages throughout the event. MP Jones reported to the Stewards that Alpine Andy had paced roughly during the running and had hung outwards with approx. 400m to run resulting in a hind leg coming into contact with the sulky wheel of Capital Guest. AM Butt was transferred to hospital with suspected rib injuries and stood down for the remainder of the meeting. JR Dunn was attended to by St John staff and cleared to drive for the remainder of the meeting. MP Jones was uninjured. Alpine Andy required veterinary attention for lacerations to a knee. The connections advised the Stewards Alpine Andy would be turned out for the remainder of the season. The Stewards opened and adjourned an inquiry into this incident.
