By Tayler Strong
Tintinara won in runaway style fresh up at Forbury Park on Friday night as a lead up to a $40,000 races for mares at Addington next Friday.
The 4yr-old mare trained at Steve Dolan for Terry and Adrienne Taylor, of Pleasant Point, led from barrier one over 2200m from the mobile gate and drew away from the 500m to win by eight lengths.
She ran a 1.58.8 mile rate, the last 800m in 57.5, the fastest section of the night on the six-race card. Tintinara was having her first race for three and a half months and Dolan was delighted.
“She really needed that race with Addington coming up. I am really pleased with her. She is much stronger and has matured in every way this season,’’ he said.
Tintinara won five races as a 3yr-old last season when she ran a mile in 1.57 at Winton and recorded 2.56.8 for 2400m (mobile) at Ashburton.
Valmagne was untroubled to win from a 30m handicap against C1 –3 trotters as a lead up to the NZ Trotting Free-For-All on Tuesday and the Dominion Handicap three days later.
“We had him in here to keep on top of his nerves,’’ said Craig Kennett, the Waimate part-owner of Valmagne.”
If we had left him for a fortnight since his previous race he is liable to do things wrong.’’ It was Valmagne’s first win for the season in 11 starts and came after a drop back in class to c4.
“He had a setback with a foot infection when we brought him back at the start of the season.” “I know he is up against the big guns at Addington but he was twice placed behind Stent when we campaigned him in Auckland last December.”
Valmagne, raced by Kennett with his son, Josh (the trainer) and Steve McGirr, won in lower grade at the NZ Cup meeting 12 months ago.
The 8yr-old Sundon gelding has now won nine races and his connections are considering sending him to Australia.
Lindsay Boulton, who renewed his licence to train this season after a break of 21 years, was successful with Mysistersastar.
Boulton, a horse transport operator, based at Oxford, shares the ownership of Mysistersastar with his partner, Michelle McDonald.
He did not make the trip to Forbury Park as he is recovering from surgery. McDonald and her daughter, Olivia transported Mysistersastar.
A 4yr-old mare by Badlands Hanover from Lordship’s Falcon, she was having her second start.
She is a sister to Crystal Star, winner of 2010 Country Cups Final at Addington and Four-Year-old Championship at Forbury Park when trained by Mark Jones for McDonald’s father Bernard (Jim).
Michelle took her father to race meetings when he was active and she is now breeding from Lordship’s Falcon.
Boulton trained the winners of nine races in 15 seasons when based at Kumeu.
He had his previous win with Cheeky Circle at Alexandra Park in April, 1993. Ossessione had his second win in three starts when he led over 2200m (mobile).
Trained at Makarewa by Alister Black for brothers, Ian and Lindsay Thomson, Ossessione (Santana Blue Chip –Absolute Obsession gelding) was a $15,000 purchase at the 2013 premier yearling sale.
He was one of three purchases at the sale by the brothers who came close to landing a treble with the trio at Gore on October 10. Ossessione and Pulling The Strings were winners and Abraham Jones finished third The latter pair have since been affected by a virus.
Darryn Simpson, who has enjoyed good success as an owner recently with the trotter Its Oscar, is the trainer of Eltsunami, who won a C0 trot from a 30m handicap.
Eltsunami went off stride early and lost several lengths but powered home late. Simpson, his partner, Kylie Smail and co-owner Denis O’Connell sent Its Oscar to Tony Herlihy as a one-win trotter for the better stakes on offer in Auckland.
The Sundon gelding has since had three wins and a third in four starts after two and a half years away from racing.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing