NZ HARNESS NEWS
The speedy and promising juvenile filly Dracarys has been sent to Perth by breeder-owner Trevor Casey to maximise her earning potential.
She has joined the stable of Justin Prentice with the immediate aim being the $100,000 Diamond Classic at Gloucester Park on June 1 and she will remain there indefinitely.
The daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Spirit Of Art has raced three times from the All Stars stable for a win over Kayla Marie in the Leonard Memorial in a 1.58.6 mile rate and a game second to that filly on debut in a Sires Stakes heat.
A few weeks ago Dracarys was favoured over Kayla Marie in a fillies feature at the Northern Southland meeting, but she galloped going into the first turn and took no further part.
“The stable has indicated there are probably 2-3 better fillies in the barn, so I decided to place her to best advantage,” said Casey.
“It should be a lot easier in Perth and the stakes are very good, and then there’s always the potential to sell them.
“When I was over there for the Inter Dominions I saw Justin’s set up and it was very good.
“I sent him Sun Of Anarchy at the time and now I’m sending him another one.”
Sun Of Anarchy had been racing in Victoria for a few years and had won 15 races and $140,000, while he won his first start in Western Australia at Gloucester Park a month ago, coming off a 50m handicap to score easily.
Dracarys is the first foal from Spirit Of Art, a daughter of Art Major who won six races and $56,000 and who Casey purchased after she’d raced a couple of times for Kirk Larsen.
“I’d always wanted to get into that (Tabella Beth) family and a bit later we bought Lazarus at the sales,” said Casey.
Spirit Of Art (1.56.5) is a half-sister to good performers in Bettor Spirits (1.53.8, 14 wins & $217,000), Spirit And Desire (1.55.9, 14 wins & $135,000), Crown Law (Aus1.51.4) and Spirit Of Delight (1.55.7).
Casey has also bred a yearling colt by Sweet Lou and weanling colt by Bettor’s Delight from Spirit Of Art.
Meanwhile, there’s been a change of plans with Casey’s good three-year-old trotters Kings Landing and Winterfell.
A few weeks ago, there was an intention to turn the latter out for the season and press on for the classics with Kings Landing.
However, Kings Landing has been troubled by deep seated bruising to his hind feet and he has been spelled, while Winterfell has since exceeded expectations and will be in next week’s NZ Trotting Derby and then probably press on to Auckland.
“Winterfell qualified for the Sires Stakes in Auckland when he won the Prelude at Addington, so he’ll head up there for that along with the Northern Derby, with the possibility of staying on for the Jewels.”
- NZ Harness News
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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