By Tayler Strong
Ruthless Kayla and Paravani qualified for the Harness Jewels at the eleventh hour with wins at Oamaru on Sunday.
“The order of qualifiers (based on stake earnings in New Zealand this season for the Jewels has now been finalised and the owners of the top 20 horses in each category have been notified,’’ said Darrin Williams, Racing Manager at Harness Racing New Zealand.
Acceptances close on Friday (May 26) at noon with confirmation of the final fields of a maximum of 13 horses for the meeting at Ashburton on Saturday, June 3.
One Muscle Hill (2-year-old trotter)and Mr Mojito (4-year-old pacer) are the confirmed Australian invitees and an invitation is still out to Rockstar Angel (4-year-old pacing mare).
The 3-year-old trotting filly Ruthless Kayla backed up from finishing third to Enghien and President Roydon in the New Zealand Yearling Sales Final at Addington on Friday, albeit a neck and nine lengths from the winner, who was not at his best on a hard surface.
Ruthless Kayla won decisively against three-win horses at Oamaru, her second win. She raced handy and finished a length and a quarter clear of She’s Allthe Craze, who came from four back on the inner with a neck to Red Hot Poker, whose effort was outstanding after leaving stride at the start and losing some 50m. He is in the 4-year-old section of the Harness Jewels.
“She (Ruthless Kayla) just keeps getting better,’’ said Kevin Fairbairn, who trains Ruthless Kayla for Ross Simpson, of Karamea Farm, Leithfield (north Canterbury).
Fairbairn bred Ruthless Kayla and sold her for $7000 to Simpson through the 2015 PGG Wrightson premier yearling sale. She is by Muscle Mass from Ruthless Jenny, a Britewell mare who won the listed Greenlane Cup at Alexandra Park in 2005 and finished third in a NZ Trotting Championship. It is the family of Tyrone Scottie, who won the NZ National Trot twice; Clover Don (24 wins) and Clover Mac, winner of the group three Coulter Crown at Melton on Saturday.
Fairbairn gave Ruthless Jenny to Simpson in 2014 and the latter has bred a filly by Bacardi Lindy for whom Simpson is the NZ agent for frozen semen. Bacardi Lindy is the sire of Dark Horse, a HJ candidate in the the 4-year-old trotter section.
Muscle Mass is the sire of five qualifiers for the 3-year-old trotter section.
Fairbairn, who trained Whatsundermykilt (2006 Dominion Handicap), qualified Magical Mel for the 4yr-old pacing section of the Harness Jewels in 2012.
Jim Curtin, who won the 4-year-old section of the Harness Jewels in 2012 with Franco Emirate, has the 2-year-old gelding Paravani, a maiden winner at his third start, Paravani a gelded son of Christian Cullen and Enchanter Franco, was a $10,000 purchase by Curtin in the 2016 premier yearling sale when offered by Paul Renwick. Enchanter Franco is a half sister by Badlands Hanover to Elisit Franco (by Falcon Seelster), the dam of Franco Emirate, who was by Christian Cullen. Franco Emirate won his first eight races.
Ewen Pycroft, who is among the eight owners of Paravani, drove trotter Stormy Morn in early wins at Greymouth and Addington in 1979 when a junior driver with the stable of Trevor Thomas. Stormy Morn won 32 races.
Malik had his third win from six starts when he overcame the unruly position over 2600m (mobile) in a 13-horse field. The 3-year-old Somebeachsomewhere – Slipinn colt is trained by Paul Court for breeders Graham Court, of West Melton, Les Purdon, Ann-Maree Lund, her sister Jo Lund and Peter Lucas, all of Auckland. The Lunds took over horses after the death of their father, Bob in 2015.
Malik is the fourth foal of Slipinn, the winner of four races. Her first two foals are Raffaello,a winner and Aquickone (five wins).
Denham Maguire, the highly regarded 3-year-old in the Nathan Williamson stable, was scratched on Sunday due to a blood disorder.
Astral Ruler was a late scratching due to showing signs of a cold.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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