The retirement of stable star Live Drama has left some large shoes to fill in Lance Robinson’s stable, though there could be a new mare on the rise in Adannaya.
Adannaya (NZ) (Niagara) was Robinson’s sole representative at Wingatui on Saturday, and as the track worsened to a Soft7 pre-race, the mare looked an ominous chance in the Gallagher Open Insurance 1200m, starting the $6.00 fourth-fancy in an even market headed by the ever-consistent Emanon ($3.90).
In the hands of Joe Doyle, the daughter of Niagara was slow away from barrier six alongside the favourite, though was allowed to relax at the tail while Emanon strode to the lead alongside Amberecho.
Doyle began to urge the mare turning for home, and she responded with an impressive turn-of-foot to storm past Henry Hubber and Emanon to score by two lengths, a performance that panned out as hoped for the Northern hoop.
“Lance told me not to rush her out of the gates, because she can get quite keen, so he said to sit back and round them up turning in, and she’s put them to bed. It was a credit to the horse, she picked up really well,” Doyle said.
“These types of sprinters, if their on the right day, they can compete to a very high level.
“Also, a big thank-you to Lance, he gives me a lot of support when I come down here so it’s nice to reward him with a winner.”
The victory was the six-year-old’s sixth from 34 starts, with a second-place finish in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) two-starts back giving Robinson a vote of confidence for the Soft conditions on Saturday.
“I was really thrilled with her run,” Robinson said. “The bit of rain they got overnight was a big help to her in just taking the speed out of the race.”
“She was well ridden by Joe, he gave her a beautiful run as she’s better ridden a little bit cold and gave her a bit of space. She finished off how I thought she would, so it was a really pleasing result.”
The mare is likely set to have a brief freshen-up over the coming weeks, before a potential further tilt at black-type in the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) on April 16.
“At this stage, we may get her home and give her ten days in the paddock. We’ve got the Breeders’ Stakes over 1400m, so we may then possibly target that. She’ll let me know, but we’ll just see how she goes between then and that race.”
Though delighted with Adannaya’s efforts, Robinson paid a special tribute to Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines) after announcing her retirement to the South Island industry last week.
A seven-year-old daughter of Ghibellines, Live Drama had been a picture of consistency throughout a highly-successful career in Robinson’s Riccarton stable, with nine victories and a further twelve minor placings from 35 race-day appearances.
Among her credentials, the mare had recorded black-type wins in the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and back-to-back Great Easter Stakes (1400m) crowns at Listed level, alongside countless Top 3 finishes.
Robinson had planned to retire Live Drama at the completion of the season, however she had become somewhat of an enigma at the barriers, and decided prior to last Saturday’s Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m) to call time on her own terms.
“She was a really good horse to the stable, she won her very first start as a two-year-old, and raced all the way through to a seven-year-old mare,” Robinson said.
“She raced in the best of company down here, carried big weights, and was just a really classy mare in my opinion.
“She had three attempts at the Stewards Stakes (Listed, 1200m) and she ran second two years in a row (then at Group Three level), and then came back after a year away to run fifth this year, carrying a huge weight of 59kgs and was buffeted the whole way.
“We’re all extremely proud of her around our stable, and she’ll be very sadly missed, but it’s in her best interests. She’s telling us she’s had her time, so she’ll be sold as a broodmare.”
