NZ HARNESS NEWS
Born To Boogie put a number of setbacks behind her to make a winning debut at Ascot Park this afternoon.
Bred by Macca Lodge, the filly by Rock N Roll Heaven and Niftey Franco was purchased by Butterworth Bloodstock for $17,000 at the 2016 premier sale.
However, following a few issues during her early preparations, her new owner chose to offer her back to the vendor as a breeding prospect.
“I just threw her in the paddock,” Macca Lodge principal Brent McIntyre said.
“Then, at Christmas time, she was looking alright and I started jogging her.”
After about three months, McIntyre said the three-year-old was running satisfactory times and showing no ill effects so he recommended to Merv Butterworth she was worth trying again.
Born To Boogie joined up with Butterworth’s southern trainer Brett Gray and has continued to impress him.
“She’s a lovely horse and everyone’s pretty happy, “Gray said.
“Merv is really grateful for what Brent did. We all hope she holds together.”
Born To Boogie is a half-sister to Glenferrie Hood by Christian Cullen. As well as winning 29 races in Australia, including multiple Group races, Glenferrie Hood also ran third in the 2013 West Australia Derby.
Nevermore, third dam of the pair, counted the 1993 Two-Year Old Fillies Sires Stakes final among her seven wins.
The win of Born To Boogie was Gray’s 31st for the season, his best ever tally and four clear of Phil Williamson at the top of the table of trainers south of the Waitaki.
Gray moved to 32 when Pay Me The Change won later in the day. Brent Barclay has driven 23 of those winners.
Gray said his two runners from Saturday’s Jewels, Smokey Mac (eighth) and Full Noise (second) are coming home for spell.
Because the seven-win four-year-old Smokey Mac has effectively won his way out of Southland class, Gray advised that after his spell he will join Phil Williamson’s team. Not so Full Noise.
“I won’t be letting him out of my sight for while,” he said.
Nathan Williamson made a winning return to the sulky when reining Canardly Remember to victory.
It was his first day back since breaking a bone in his right foot early in May.
Williamson, who drove in nine of the ten races, also had five from his stable in, but went without a win.
“I’ve got 14 in work but half of them are just back in for a new preparation,” he said.
The lightly raced three-year-old Vintage Cheddar, prepared by Alister Black. won his second race at his seventh appearance when leading all the way in the Bluff Cup.
“He goes out for a spell now,” Black said.
- NZ Harness News
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