By Mac Henry
Racing for the first time since December 2015, starting from 30 metres behind and winning the Abernethy Contracting Ltd Trot by head – it was as if Poppymalda had never been away.
Two years ago, on her way to finishing third in the Jewels at Ashburton, the now six year old had been successful in the equivalent race. Poppymalda was later sidelined by a tendon injury in her right (off) hind leg and her trainer Nathan Williamson has been patient during her recovery. Nothing will change.
“She had a pretty hard run first up, she’ll have an easy few days now, I want to see how she has come through this before making any decision about her,” Williamson advised.
Box Seat viewers must have unloaded on Six Diamonds who was labelled by the panel as one of the best for the weekend and paid only $1.90 and $1.30 in the Osborne Rock Supplies Mobile. A Tuapeka Lodge-bred four year old, he is raced by Lindsay and Ian Thomson and was having just his 14th start. The American Ideal gelding is trained by Alister Black who said a virus had interrupted his career this season and took a while to clear up.
Six Diamonds led out, trailed, took the passing lane and won comfortably to add a mobile start success to his earlier two stand-start wins. Black confirmed circumstances, rather than lack of ability or disliking for mobile starts accounted for his previous lack of wins from that mode.
The influence of good mare On Patrol continued at Gore on Saturday when Two Ply justified her recent entries in the black book by taking the Advance Agriculture Mobile Pace. In a decade and a half of breeding, the daughter of Lordship produced On Leave (three wins), Soky’s Patrol (seven wins in Australia), Holmes Patrol (three in Australia), On Sky (five from 10 in New Zealand before her sale to the United States), On The Double (10), Lord Patrol (11) and Final Patrol (one).
Two Ply’s dam is On The Double by Holmes Hanover, who raced for four seasons and was successful in each of them with her last win the 2017 Northern Southland Autumn Cup. On The Double is also the dam of Wick who won five for her South Otago owner and breeder Ian Bennett before being sold to the United States.
Winton trainer Des Baynes and the Eight Proof Syndicate continued a successful combination when Ideal Breeze took the Southland Standardbred Breeders Mobile 2200 for non-winner mares and fillies at just her third start.
“She got a good draw and (driver) Brendon (McLellan)gave her a nice trip, she’ll strengthen more and next season should be suited by the mares’ races, she sprints well,” Baynes said of the three year old.
The syndicate previously raced Soky’s Proof, a descendant of Tactics and grand-dam of Ideal Breeze, from the stable of Brendon Scobie. She left Beth’s Boy, seven wins for Baynes and the syndicate before her sale to the United States in 2010, and Windproof, the winner of two.
The winning run of Wyndham brothers Gordon and Colin Lee continued with the victory of Lynette The Vet in the Gore New World Trot.
“She’s a nice trotter with good manners and a good gait, she needs a nice trip and got it today,” Gordon Lee said.
Previously trained by Murray Edmonds, the mare by Raffaello Ambrosio from Accelerando Del was bred and is raced Neil Manson from Little River on the Banks Peninsula.
The High Achiever’s win in the Fiona Scobbie of Bayleys Gore and Fiber Fresh Mobile was the right tonic for Ross Ludemann, who heard about it in his bed at Dunedin Hospital. A Tapanui farmer, Ross, his wife Bev and sons Simon and Geoff bred and race the three year old son of Bettor’s Delight who is trained by Brett Gray. He is a half brother to the winners Lively Hero, The Highlight and The High Roller.
Elusive Flight was the only runner claimed in the Regional Ford Gore and PGG Wrightson Claimers. The winner of seven was picked up for $5000 by Graeme Anderson and returns to the stable he raced from between April and October last year and recorded two wins, four seconds and three thirds. The Elsu eight year old only managed seventh on Saturday in a race won by Nerve Of Steel, having his first start for Tapanui trainer Matt Saunders and not wanted for $3000.
Nerve Of Steel was driven Dexter Dunn in the second on the day’s card. It was his only winner with a second and two thirds the biggest returns from his other 10 drives. Blair Orange with Clover Lady and The Best Christian was the only reinsman to win two.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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