What was worth noting from the trials from all over the country for the week ending 26/9/2024
Wyndham Workouts-Saturday 21 September
Race 1 – Styrax (5m Creatine – Larix) Trainer Mrs G McClymont
Just the three runners faced the tape, and it turned into a two-horse affair with the talented Fiery Bandito leading Styrax for the last half of the heat.
Both travelling well at the line with Styrax arguably travelling just as well behind the six-race winner at the line. Although a maiden from 14 attempts to date, suggested has come back nicely from her spell and will be hard to beat in her own grade on resumption.
Race 4 – Saucy Delight (3g Bettor’s Delight – Saucycullen) Trainer C R Ferguson
This nice upstanding son of Bettor’s Delight showed gate speed to lead and turned the heat into a procession there after. Dashed his last half in 56.9 and the final quarter in 28.3, he still had time to briefly check out the golfers on the first hole up the straight! Look out for his race debut in the near future.
Mid Canterbury TOA- Ashburton Tuesday 24 September
Race 1 – Catchafire (2g Bettor’s Delight – Sabellian) Trainer S J Boyd
Attending his third trial in addition to a couple of workouts, the yet unraced gelding began well to trail the leader until just inside the 1000m mark when John Morrison took him to the front. Just collared in the last stride by Bettor Go Vinnie (4th in the NZ Sapling Stakes earlier this year), with race winner Renaldo running on well for third. Appears to be learning with each run so well worth a look when he makes his race debut.
Race 5 – Yaldhurst Folly (4g Auckland Reactor – Volatile Lavra) Trainer R A Kennedy
Qualified two weeks ago so stepping out in public for just the second time. Began slowly but safely from the stand and raced in fourth place before Ricky May grabbed the one-one with around 600m to go. Hooked out halfway down the straight and quickened impressively to win going away by 2 lengths at the line under his own steam. Looks a promising type.
Race 7 – Lester (6g Bettor’s Delight – Alchemist) Trainer W E Stapleton.
Back from a brief let-up having last raced in the middle of June. Raced in third spot for the trip and wasn’t pulled off the back of the eventual winner (To Ri Ruby) at any stage up the straight by driver Kimberley Butt, and went to the line under a strong grip. Looks to have come back in fine fettle and although he will be in a competitive grade, has always shown he has the game to mix it with them.
Race 8 – Miles Away (4g Trixton – Not Likely) Trainer M R Tapper
Hasn’t been sighted since the end of June, but stepped well and travelled kindly throughout for RT May.
Switched to the inside of Penelope Hall in the last 150m and sprinted sharply to grab the win in the shadows of the post.
Started career with a win on debut towards the end of last year, and despite only having had a further six starts, has always shown promise.
Time likely to be his friend, but looks ready for his racetrack return in the coming weeks.
North Canterbury TOA – Rangiora Wednesday 25 September
Star Watch
Race 2- Muscle Mountain – He’s Back! Trainer G and N Hope
Our country’s best trotter resumed after a break of more than four months and showed he has lost none of his ability. Starting quickly from the back-mark of 30m, he settled fifth in single file for driver Ben Hope and remained there while Blair Orange set a moderate tempo on the leader Mystic Max. Asked to improve by Hope inside the final 800m of the trial, he levelled up to the leader turning for home and asserted his superiority late to win narrowly but well. Overall time was 3.20.0 for the 2600m, with an excellent 56.8 for the last half, and 28.7 for the last 400m. Mystic Max was good in second with the promising Father Time making good ground for fourth and although winning his last two starts, hasn’t finished winning yet.
Race 5- Don’t Stop Dreaming – The Journey Starts Here! Trainer M and N Purdon
The equal second favourite for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup in November took his first steps towards the holy grail in Heat 5, a mobile 2000m trial.
Taken back from the start by Blair Orange, the champion pacer settled last of the six runners as the Ken Barron-trained Toby Tom B dictated terms for Sam Thornley. Asked to stretch out under his own steam up the straight, he closed stylishly to finish third, beaten a half head and a neck by stablemate Moments Like This, and Toby Tom B. Although the overall time was a moderate 2.30.8, they came home in a smart 56.1, with the final quarter in 29.0.
Best of The Rest
Race 3 Lochdarragh (3g Locharburn – Rock Me Gently) Trainer K K Chapman
Began well to lead and remained there for the duration, winning untouched in the hands of Robbie Close. Slow overall time of 3.26.4 for the 2600m stand, but it was the professional manner of the performance that impressed. The runner up was Premier who ran third on debut at Oamaru recently behind Rubira.
Kevin Chapman has schooled the horse well at trials and workouts and should therefore be ready to rock n roll when he lines up for the first time on race day.
Race 4 – The Lazarus Effect (3g Lazarus – Brook Street) Trainer R J Butt
Wow, just wow! Only had the one workout prior to today (when he beat the aforementioned Lochdarragh), this son of Lazarus was taken off the arm from the 2000m starting point and settled midfield for trainer/driver Bob Butt. Stayed fifth until around the 600m when he got a drag into the race behind the Kerry Hadfield-trained Royal Belle (good run for second), and unwound strongly to win going away by more than three lengths. Paced the trip in 2.29.0, a mile rate of 1.59.8, last 800 in 57.6 and the quarter in 28.5. The large group of owners will be having some serious fun with this bloke.
Race 7 – Bettor Fortune (2g Bettor’s Delight – Fortune Lover) Trainer D J Keast
Taken to the rear of the field from his wide draw by driver Robbie Holmes, the son of Bettor’s Delight remained last of nine, before improving with just under a lap from home. Dropped three back the fence inside the 800m and sprinted nicely up the straight when the gaps presented to finish a close third behind the Dunn trained Celestial Sea. Has only had the one race start back in May in a hot 2-year old field at Addington behind Got The Chocolates, then spelled, and this was his third trial back, so will be close to a racetrack return. The Darren Keast team is starting to fire up, so would pay to follow this horse especially if starting in a maiden race anytime soon.
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