Cleaver Cracks It With Carnley (Tuesday 13th December 2011)
By Bruce Stewart
Riverton trotter Carnley capped off some consistent form when winning at Ascot Park today.
Trained by Holly Crackett, the gelding is owned by fisherman Neville Cleaver and his buddy Kevin Strong. The pair bought the six year old off breeder Murray Darnill for $10,000. after he ran third at the Riverton meeting in October.
"My partner Kevin Strong wasn't happy when I turned out his half sister Sunrise Delight so that's why we bought Carnley. He's a bit of a fun horse until the mare (Sunrise Delight) gets back racing again," said Cleaver.
After two delays to the race, Carnley, who had orginially drawn seven, came into barrier four after Bolton Earl was a late scratching, and Sudon Speed and Some Say The Best were banished to the outside of the front line. From the draw, driver Brad Williamson punched the six year old out and took him straight to the lead.
"Brad said he just jogged out of the mobile. I got Nathan (Williamson) to tell Brad to set a true pace and get them off the bit down the back straight so we took the sprint out of the others."
The gelding had just enough petrol to hang on to beat Sergeant Don by a head with a neck back to favourite Billy Ray.
"I wasn't sure whether they got past him in the straight but Brad said the horse couldn't see them coming because he had the blinds on but he dug in deep and found some extra. He's definitely improved and Holly tells me that he's changed his training and he doesn't do at lot of fast work with him. There's been some buyer interest, and Paul Davies, Steven Reid and an Australia buyer have been on the phone."
Today's win was penalty free and Cleaver is keenly looking for another mobile race for the gelding.
Meanwhile he's taking the promising Sunrise Delight back to Nathan Williamson's tomorrow. The four year old Sundon mare had two starts early in the season for a win and a second before tying up problems halted her campaign. She was spelled, well fed and jogged for seven weeks by Riverton horseman Alex Jenkins.
"She looks like a tank. She's big around the shoulders and across the rump and ready to go."
The win by Carnley was the fifty seventh for the progeny of broodmare Little Miss Watch who's also the dam of Musgrove, Sun Watch and Hardwick; all big race winners.
Cleaver also owns Yule Ana an Armbro Invasion mare out of Little Miss Watch which recently had a colt foal by Sundon.
Classiemahon Wins First Two Year Old Race (Sunday 18th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
Judging from yesterday's first two year old race of the season at Wairio, Lorneville trainer Tony Stratford looks to have another nice crop of youngsters with Classiemahon being the stand out.
Invariably Stratford and Branxholme trainer Kirk Larsen have their two year olds to the fore at this time of year and yesterday between them they trained the complete field of five runners.
Classiemahon, a Jereme's Jet colt took out the mobile 1609 metre non-tote event beating the Larsen trained Zach Bromac by a head with a length and three quarters back to another Stratford trained runner - Kamwood Mac.
Classiemahon was selected and bought at the 2011 Sale of the Stars for $50,000. by Winton horseman Ian Wilson who races the colt with family members under the Jay Tee Syndicate. The colt's dam, Ballymahon is by In The Pocket and time trialed in 1-55.3. His pedigree includes 1994-95 Broodmare of the Year Sakuntala.
"He showed natural ability from when we broke him in and he seems to be progressing. Of the two year olds I've got at the moment he's the best. He's a lovely going horse - a beautiful pacer. He doesn't show you a lot at home but there always seems to be a bit in the tank which is a good sign," said Stratford.
A number of two year old events have been programmed in Southland in the up coming months and all three of the juveniles Stratford started yesterday will target these races.
"Hopefully the two year old race gets off the ground on the 29th. He'll (Classiemahon) take the same path as Monaghan did last year. Monaghan won this race last year, went on and won the race at Winton on the 29th, was second in the Young Guns Heat and then won the Sapling Stakes. This guy will probably head in a similar direction."
Tony Stratford
The Perfect Partnership (Sunday 18th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
Winton trotting mare Perfect Duchess has had a number of different drivers but it's been her trainer Tim White who's got on best with her.
"I drove her for the first time at Wyndham (November) when I had two other horses in the race. Clark Barron drove Johnnie Deesal and Brent Barclay drove Jenny's Rubee. After the race Brent said to me that I might as well stay on her so I have and it's worked out," said White.
After a handful of minor placings the Earl five year old finally quit maiden ranks yesterday, when driven by White impressively she won the Nightcaps Contracting Limited Trot at the Wairio meeting.
"She went away better today and we got handy. When Gavin (Forbes) came around with Barneys Girl I got underneath him three wide. I followed him and was going to go through the middle but there wasn't much room so I came out wide. She was jogging coming around the top and I thought, I'll get some of this today. She put her head down and just wanted to go. For the first time she felt like her mother."
Perfect Duchess winning for Tim White - Megan Graham
Perfect Duchess was bred by White and Doug McLeish out of their eight win Holdonmyheart mare Perfect Hold which White trained. Perfect Duchess is raced by Colin Lindsay, White and his mother Joy. Lindsay raced MacArthur Park; the winner of six races from the White stable.
Tim White now owns Perfect Hold and has a yearling colt named Holdon Commandor going to the Premier Yearling Sales in Christchurch in March. He's by CR Commando.
Out Of The Mist (Sunday 18th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
For thirty three years the names Stumbles, Donaldson and Eade have been associated with racing horses in Southland. Yesterday at Winton their latest racehorse Just Call Him Mist won the Winton Night'N Day Foodstore Mobile Pace.
Terry Stumbles, Noel Eade and Peter and Ian Donaldson started in the game in 1976 when they purchased a Tactile colt named Doctor at the yearling sales.
"He ended up in Macau. It wasn't too long after that that we came across Ken Drake and got Trish Mist. She was from Noel Drake's breed (Ken's father) - a fantastic breed and as good as anything in Southland. We had a great run with her," said Ian Donaldson.
Trish Mist won four races when trained by Gary McEwan and the foursome have raced most of her seventeen foals with the best being Scootmisteriouslybye which won four races for Ryal Bush trainer Hamish Hunter.
"He was the best of them. He was a competitive two year old who finished fourth in the Welcome Stakes and second in the Sapling Stakes. Mystical Finale was Trish Mist's last foal. She won her last three races over three years. Everytime we took her to the races she broke down. She died, but left a filly by Real Desire which got caught up in a fence and was retired to stud. We'll breed from her."
Hamish Hunter trained and drove Just Call Him Mist and yesterday's run was his sixth start. Donaldson says the horse hasn't had too much luck so far in his career but he received the perfect trip behind placemaker Lite Bourbon.
"Hamish says he's capable but he has a few of the family traits. He's not as strong mentally as he is physically."
Just Call Him Mist with head round at the finish - Megan Graham
Dream Out Loud For Pelorus (Sunday 18th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
With an eye to the future Canterbury trainer Steve Dolan ventured south with Dream Out Loud for the Wairio meeting to test the waters for some bigger races to come later in the season.
Driven for the first time yesterday by junior reinswoman Samantha Ottley the four year old Bettor's Delight gelding was taken straight to the front from barrier seven and ended up putting away a tidy field.
"It was a nice field today so he needed to go out there and do what he did if he's to run in the Pelorus Classic. Sam was thrilled with the run and couldn't believe he went so fast. They went 2-56.6 but she said they felt like they were going a lot slower. He's a lovely big horse who can get across the ground," said Dolan.
This is the second time Dolan has bought the gelding south. He won at the Invercargill April meeting.
"It's nice to be able to bring them south and get a good result like this because it's often not that lucrative timewise to come all the way south and run down the track. You have to make sure you're got a decent one when you travel like this. All the travel will nurture his future. You get ringcraft and learn how to relax when you travel. I felt I had him a lot better than I've ever had today. He's a big raw boned horse who I've brought in and out of work a few times and just waited on."
Dream Out Loud and Samantha Ottley winning at Wairio - Megan Graham
The Bettor's Delight four year old which was a $17,000. purchase will be kept ticking over with races after Christmas on his programme.
"He'll race at Rangoria on the 31st December then that will give him a fortnight til his next race ($40,000. Pelorus Classic at Blenheim) then he'll have a wee let up after that."
Stable Star Franco Jamar returns to Dolan's stable on Tuesday and is likely to target the Easter Cup. He's been campaigning in Australia under the guidence of Luke McCarthy, and Dream Out Loud may head in the same direction.
"I've spoken to Luke about him and pointed out that he could be our next project to get across to Menangle. I think he could get round there in 1-52 without too much trouble. He'd love the track and Luke's style of training as well but it could be six to eight months away before we do that."
Delight For Paisley (Sunday 18th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
In six starts this season Bettor's Delight four year old Princess Delight hasn't had too much luck but yesterday at the Wairio meeting she received the perfect trip behind Madam President to win her second race.
"She's drawn nine and she had to go round them then she got knocked down on Drivers Day. Todd Mitchell drove her that day and said she went real good. At her last start she drew one on the second row and got third. She's always been genuine - a real laid back horse who takes nothing out of herself," said trainer Alan Paisley.
Driver Carl Hanna took full advantage of the passing lane and managed to hold out an unlucky Pembrook's Delight by a neck in 2-58.0 for the 2400 metres. Prior to yesterdays win there was a fair amount of confidence in the camp after a workout last Saturday at Wyndham.
"Last Saturday Jumpforjoy and she had a workout. We ended up going 3-03 and in from the half in 55.4."
Princess Delight was bought by Gad Carter at the 2009 National Yearling Sales for $9,000. Carter races the mare in partnership with his wife Joan, his daughter Jane Carter of Rotorua, Caroline Carter of Edendale and Jeff Crengle.
Princess Delight
She's the seventh foal out of the speedy mare Nuclear Princess with her third dam being Hurrania which won seven races.
"The plan now is to race in the Southern Belle Speed Series if she measures up."
In the five starts Princess Delight has had over a mile she's won and finished second and third twice. Her best time was when she ran second to Juniper Bromac at Winton in February last year recording 1-56.5.
Nothing Bigger Than Texas (Sunday 18th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
Ohoka Texas broke a track record and remained unbeaten in Southland when he won yesterday's Otautau Four Square Supermarket Wairio Cup.
The four year old which has won three of his four starts this campaign moved up towards the lead from the 1600 metres and 400 metres later he was in front and rolling along.
"We were wrapped because he went super. He doesn't have a lot of high speed but he's a great stayer that just keeps going. I think he'd be the best horse I've had in the stable," said trainer/driver Mark Jones.
The overall time for the 2400 metre stand was 2-57.7 with the last 800 metres run in a sensational 54.9; a sectional rarely recorded on the fast Central Southland Raceway. There was a six and a quarter length gap back to the second horse Franco Ledger which sat outside the winner, and another four and a half lengths back to No Courage Russell. The time was a new track record bettering Bettor's Strike time of 2-58.8 recorded when he won the Winton Businesses Cup in April 2009. In October Ohoka Texas equalled the mile record on the track recording 1-54.1.
Jones says the Christian Cullen entire will now have a few days off and target the $20,000. Westport Cup on Boxing Day before heading to Blenheim for the Pelorus Classic in January. The $40,000. Invercargill Cup is also on the radar at the end of January.
"He'll get to open class. The Carvilles will be holidaying in Marlborough in Janaury so that's why we're going there rather than the Northern Southland meeting. They've turned down $200,000. for this horse. He's the type they like to keep."
Ohoka Texas after his mile win at Winton
Adam Gets Two For Adams (Monday 19th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
Driver Adam Sanderson and trainer Wayne Adams have begun their partnership in the best possible fashion.
The junior reinsman who started his career with Kirk Larsen before a stint in Australia, has recently become the stable driver for Wayne Adams and with two wins at Wairio yesterday things are progressing well.
The first came in the Southland Standardbred Breeders Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace. Sanderson from barrier six took Donthavtime straight to the lead; a plan that was always in the back of his mind.
“I was just going to decide when I got out there. Bonnie Harvest was in the race so I was going to see what he was going to do but my mare has good gate speed when you ask for it, so it was definitely on my mind to go to the front. She was quite comfortable there just bowling along but I’d prefer if she came from the back as she’s quite a high speed mare. You’ll probably see the best of her when she’s tucked up,” said Sanderson.
The five year old mare which is owned by stable client Murray Little held on to beat Canterbury visitor Valour Under Fire by a neck with another two lengths back to Graceandtemika running the mile in 1-58.7.
According to Sanderson Donthavtime is likely to start in the Southern Belle Speed Series.
“It’s a preferential barrier draw. She’s a C3 mare and she can use that gate speed and hopefully follows a nice one. If she sticks around racing against the mares she hasn’t finished winning yet. She’s quite good from the stand as well so after the Southern Belle Series is finished there are plenty of options for her.”
The second win for Adams and Sanderson came with first starter Hellboy in the Merry Xmas from CRT Pace.
The three year old started as favourite after impressively winning a workout at Invercargill beating recent Invercargill winner Electric Ollie and Mike McKaid.
“He’s only been here three weeks but what he’s done has impressed me. His workout was pretty solid so there was a bit of confidence going into the race.”
The chestnut gelding is out of Rhetoric a Tylers Best mare out of the former Southland mare May Win. May Win was raced by Pat and Davey Jones and won six races. She was originally trained by the late Bud Baynes before stints with the owner Pat Jones and other trainers, Peter Scaife, Alan Devery and Robert Mitchell.
Hellboy qualified at Addington in October and was brought down to Southland by owner Ken Scott who worked for the Joneses in the winter.
“He’s got a lot to learn and needs to be a bit more competitive because he didn’t really want to skip clear. He won’t run away from them but in saying that he won’t let them get past him. He was doing it comfortably and even at the line it felt as if he could have gone another lap.”
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Smiths Of Myross Wins Non Tote (Wednesday 28th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
The well bred Shards Of Myross narrowly won the non tote two year old fillies trial at Gore yesterday.
Bred by Mark and Debbie Smith of Myross Bush, she's by McArdle out of the New York Motoring mare She's Mighty which is the dam of Likmesiah (13 wins), Mighty Cullen (8 wins) and Mister Presley (6 wins) and is raced by the Smiths with a group of friends in the Gone Gaga Syndicate.
"Dave Innes broke her in and I went around to have a look at her the day she went home and she went quite nicely.When she came in for her second preparation she came here and has ticked all the boxes so far. She's a nice pacer and does everything right," said trainer Tony Stratford.
She was driven in yesterday's 1700 metre mobile trial by Jonny Cox.
"She came out of the gate and trailed the two horse (Lilly Jones). She got up on the inside and went clear half way down the straight but Kate Stephanie almost got her on the line," said Stratford.
Straight after the run the McArdle filly was floated back to Myross Bush for a short spell.
"She's out for ten days and when we get back from the Central Otago circuit we'll get her back in and aim at the next fillies race. There's one programmed for the end of January so we just have to hope like hell they hold it. As long as she keeps progressing she'll head to all the main two year old fillies races."
The number of two year olds in Southland is light at the moment and this is the second time a juvenile event has been made into a non tote race.
"The biggest thing is that it costs the same amount to train a two year old. Most horses can line up 52 weeks a year but we only have a small window with these two year olds - three months for most of them - so it's annoying that this race didn't get off the ground."
It Gets No Bettor For Barclay (Wednesday 28th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
Driver Kirstin Barclay still gets a buzz out of winning races and is well matched with front runners that show the same tenacity to win.
Barclay, who is a stable driver for Invercargill trainer Murray Brown was paired with Bettor Yarn in the Arden Lodge Mobile Pace at Gore yesterday and both were determined to lead and win.
The Bettor's Delight four year old was having his first start since running tenth on this course in October but most punters were aware of his great fresh up record so he was made second favourite.
"He goes well fresh so we didn't have to take him to the workouts we just worked him around home. Leading today was the go because he lead and won here last time and ran the journey in 2-45," said trainer Murray Brown.
Barclay was also confident of a good showing.
"He was absolutely out of his skin in the preliminary so I knew he was going to go good. As soon as they turned to leave the gate a bit of grit hit the wheel of the cart and he was off. Murray said his two wins have been from the front so that was the plan today - he's just so tough," said Barclay.
The gelding lead from gate four but was worried by the Allan Beck trained Call Of Duty which moved up to sit parked with a lap to run. Call Of Duty got within a head of Bettor Yarn at the finish.
"I was a wee bit worried because Becky's horse is so big and I thought he may have won just past the post but my fella didn't lie down."
It was the Bettor's Delight's four year old third win and Brown says be may head to Roxburgh for his next start.
Bettor Yarn and Kristin Barclay running to the stables after a job well done.
In about three weeks Barclay will be joining Tom Kilkelly's stable replacing Jamie Campbell who is off to University in the new year. She'll be replaced at the Brown stable by Hayley Croft who worked for Brown prior to heading to Canterbury to work for Cran Dalgety.
Becky Wins For Baynes (Wednesday 28th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
Repeat After Me's win at Gore yesterday further enhanced the excellent breeding record of New York Motoring mare Instrumental.
Owned by Des Baynes and Geoff Gibson-Smith, Instrumental has left eleven foals of racing age and all have qualified with ten winning races.
Gibson-Smith bred and raced the mare's first foal I've Been Thinking (1-53.1 USA) and also had success with Sugar Shack (4 wins) and Bring It On (2 wins) while Baynes developed and raced Art Beat (3 wins) and Pace And Vision (1 win). The mare's lastest qualifier Pass The Sugar qualified for Gibson-Smith at Wyndham last month.
Repeat After Me had run two third placings this time in and was send out second favourite in the Thomas Green Public House and Dining Room Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace.
"The horse in front of us didn't go out so we went back and got in the last three or four. We were lucky from the 800 to get a drag up three wide behind Brent Barclay's horse (Eves Apple). He carted us up to the 400 but started to struggle so we were on our own from there. I thought at the top of the straight she was too far off them but the others came back to us and she keep going. The time was a good one for maidens especially round here and I think she'll take the next step up," said driver Allan Beck.
Repeat After Me held on to beat a late charge from Twilight Jaccka and a game Fullofjoy which used plenty of petrol to finish third.
The 1700 metres was run in 2-05.1 - a mile rate of 1-58.4. The track record for mares is 2-04.3 which is held by Pandora's Diamond.
Repeat After Me and Allan Beck
If You Want A Motor - Buy Chevron Direct (Wednesday 28th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
The form around the Glenys and Terry Chmiel trained Buy Chevron Direct made him a racecourse certainty at Gore yesterday.
The In The Pocket colt in his first campaign had run second behind quality three year olds Paddy Brown and Smolda on the tough Metropolitan circuit and from barrier one was made a $1.40 win favourite.
"The plan was to lead but when Clark (Barron) came round I knew he'd stay there so it was the ideal trip in the the trail. He'd only had one trial back since racing at Cup Week so it was an ideal trip. He got quite keen when Clark came up but once he got into the trail be dropped the bit and raced real nice and at the line was pricking his ears and he won pretty easily," said driver and co-trainer Terry Chmiel.
Buy Chevron Direct was purchased for $15,000. by Canterbury trainer Nigel McGrath at the 2010 Sale of the Stars in Christchurch when offered under the name Optimus Prime.
"I saw him go at the workouts one day and Nigel said it was for sale so I had a drive and I bought him for Robert and Sharyn Symon. They came down from Te Anau today to see him run so things worked out well."
The colt has now won three races and banked $22,206. but is still assessed as a C2 horse.
The performance of runner up Gone Overboard was full of merit. He worked hard to go to the top with a lap to run and despite been passed by Buy Chevron Direct in the straight still fought back to go down by three quarters of a length. He was actually making gound off the leader again at the finish. Gone Overboard wore pacifiers for the first time yesterday.
The 2200 metres was run in 2-44.8 with the last 800 metres in 57.2.
Buy Chevron Direct with Terry Chmiel in the birdcage prior to yesterday's win.
Chmiel said Buy Chevron Direct may return to Southland for the Northern Southland meeting on January 12th and on Invercargill Cup day and the long term plan is to start in the $40,000. Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes Final at Ascot Park on Sunday 22nd April. The New Zealand Derby is also likely to be on his programme.
A half sister to Buy Chevron Direct by Christian Cullen will be offered on the second day of the Sale of the Stars in Christchurch on March 6th.
Jolene Oaks Filly (Friday 30th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
There were high expectations that the royally bred Jolene Franco would score a debut win at Winton yesterday but it took a gem of a drive from Craig Thornley to get the Falcon Seelster filly out of a tight spot and up to win.
Going into yesterdays race, trainer Steven McRae wasn't overly confident after drawing the inside of the second line.
"I wasn't too confident after the draw but with Craig driving her he knows what he's doing and the horses he's up against. Once she came off the fence (at the 400 metres) I was quietly confident she'd pick them up. She's got a pretty sharp sprint on her but it's just about getting her some ringcraft," said McRae.
She won easily by three quarters of a length from Love In The Dark with a further two and a quarter lengths back to Sorrento Bay. The eye catching run of the race came from Ardlussa Eliza. Being checked to last, she then made a sweeping run to lead at the 600 metres. She finished fourth, only five lengths from the winner.
Jolene Franco is owned by Peter Chambers of Glenferrie Farm Limited who purchased the half sister to Franco Jazzman at the 2010 Sale of the Stars for $52,500 when the filly was offered by Spreydon Lodge.
"From the time she was broken in we have liked her and all the way through she's looked better than average. Peter has spent his money on buying quality stock on the female side to set up his own breeding farm in Australia."
McRae plans to leave the filly in the south for some of the rich stake money up for grabs at the Northern Southland and Invercargill meetings next month.
"She'll have another start before the Invercargill Cup meeting either at Roxburgh or the Northern Southland meeting. I'll just leave her down with Dad and see how good he is."
A half brother to Jolene Franco will be offered at next years sale.
Jolene Franco, Craig Thornley and Winton Committeeman John Price
Rugged Cross Wins For Williamson (Friday 30th December 2011)
Bruce Stewart
The pedigree of yesterday's Winton winner Rugged Cross is impeccable.
The four year old mare which is raced on lease from the Grice Brothers is a full sister to class trotters Dependable (14 wins), Jo Anne (12 wins) and Ima Gold Digger (15 wins).
Prior to yesterdays win the Sundon mare had had issues with her manners.
"At her last start she was going to run a place behind Talkmeintoit but when Brad pulled the ear plugs she blew to bits. She has to be nursed around as she doesn't trot a 100 per cent. We hope she's going to get a bit stronger and mature and get better in her gait," said Bev Williamson wife of the trainer Phil Williamson.
Driver Brad Williamson settled Rugged Cross in the one one with 1700 metres to run. She was hooked out at the 500 metres and trotted up to beat pacemaker Grant Us Peace by one and a quarter lengths.
Rugged Cross and Brad Williamson
