By Duane Ranger
The Adrienne Matthews owned, trained and bred Shestherealdeal won her sixth race on grass when triumphant in Sunday’s $8,000 Wanganui Cup.
The 5-year-old American Ideal mare has now won nine of her 50 starts and provided Matthews with her first training success of the season.
“She’s the best horse I have trained, owned and bred. I was real anxious when they had the false start because the longer they leave her standing the more fractious she can get,” Matthews said.
“Sailesh (Abernethy) has done a wonderful job with her these past couple of seasons. He knows how to get her away and he knows how to look after her. He drove brilliantly again on Sunday,” Matthews said.
Abernethy had the $7.10 second favourite in front from her 10 metre handicap after just 200m. They then lead throughout to win the 2600m stand by three quarters of a length and one-and-a-quarter lengths from favourite Gwendene (Jay Abernethy) and roughie Bankcard (Andre Poutama).That flying start was the winning of the race.
Shestherealdeal stopped the clock in 3:37.9 (mile rate 2:14.8) with final 800m and 400m sectionals of 62.1 and 32.6.
“I’ll stick to the grass track circuit with her now. I will pick and choose which ones suit her but I think her next race will be in the Te Awamutu Cup on December 29,” Matthews said.
She said Shestherealdeal was a lovely horse to train because she gave her all every time she lined up.
“She’s a lovely natural horse but has some funny little quirks. She tends to rush through small openings and doorways and hates confined spaces. Getting her on the float the first time was a real battle.
“She dropped back to the C4 grade for Sunday’s race and is now back to C5. She’s only five and had 50 starts so I think there is another win or two left in her yet,” Matthews said.
Matthews bred Shestherealdeal with Tim Vince.
“We bred him and then Dad took over the ownership with me when Tim got out when she was a yearling.
“She’s matured into a nice race horse, but I will leave her on the unruly for now because she doesn’t like to many horses around her and she doesn’t like being kept waiting,” Pukekohe-based Matthews said.
Shestherealdeal is the out of the five-win Holmes Hanover mare Blazing Spirit. She was trained by Irvin Behrns and banked $177,259 in her 53-race career.
Her biggest wins were the $85,000 PGG Wrightson Yearling Series Fillies Pace and the Group One $100,000 Nevele R 3yo Fillies Final. Both races were in 1995.
Shestherealdeal is the 10th of 12 foals – and the most successful.
Matthews said her main target would be the 2016 Country Cups Final at New Plymouth in March.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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