By Mac Henry
*** Ruby’s Jewel, the Sundon mare out of a half sister to million dollar trotter One Over Kenny, trotted to victory at the Ascot Park meeting of the Northern Southland club on Thursday by nine lengths.
It was the six-year-old’s second win, 10 months after her first. For her maiden victory she was trained and driven by Bruce Wallace of Chatton, who bred and races Ruby’s Jewel with wife Maree.
One Over Kenny was trained for much of her career by Phil Williamson who took Ruby’s Jewel for two starts in Auckland last year without success. About 10 days ago, he got Ruby’s Jewel back and returned her to form.
“The advantage I’ve got is she’s working all the time with other horses, being in the team,” Williamson explained, “if she keeps her act together she’ll go further, she’s building the right way.”
He said inexperience and not coping with going the Auckland way round cost her when he had her last year. Ruby’s Jewel’s grand-dam Frances Jay Bee left a host of top performers. Williamson remarked stamina was the family’s strength and that this mare has plenty.
His team has been based at Cromwell since before Christmas but are on their way home now.
Ruby’s Jewel was driven by Brad Williamson who combined again with his father to win another of the trots on Springbank Eden.
*** Cambridge couple Ollie and Irene Haines together with the Barron brothers Clark and Tony, enjoyed a successful day on Thursday.
For the Haines, at the end of their summer vacation, they were on hand to see the wins of two pacers they bred and own. I’m Full Of Excuses, trained by Clark, won the Summer Cup and A Damn Good Excuse, trained by Tony, took out a C1 contest.
“We left Cambridge three weeks ago and have been in the south for a week and a half, travelling around and inspecting last year’s foals, it is the first time we have seen them,” Ollie Haines said.
The Haines base all their broodmares at Macca Lodge in Riversdale.
Slow stand-starts had been a problem for I’m Full Of Excuses in the past but Barron said “he started well today. The Invecargill Cup will be next for him”. I’m Full Of Excuses went to a C5 rating with the win and will start from 20 metres in the $32,000group three 3200 metre feature on 3 January.
Tony’s winner for the Haines was A Damn Good Excuse in 2:41.3 for the 2200 metre mobile. She was bouncing back from a disappointment at Roxburgh where she threw herself before the standing start, tangled away and was held up turning in before rattling home for fifth.
“The start beat her, we took all the extra gear off today,” Barron said, “the
mobile and a good draw made the difference today.”
A Damn Good Excuse was second at this meeting 12 months ago before winning on Invercargill Cup Day. A C2 junior drivers race at the Oamaru grass track meeting on 21 January will now be considered for the winner of three.
Clark Barron struck earlier in the day when Southern Pursuit clocked 2:40.0 to win the 2200 metre C2 and C3 mobile. The time was just 0.6seconds outside the fastest ever run in Southland. It was the third win from three starts this season for the four-year old son of Panspacificfight and Relentless Storm bred and owned by Peter and Julie Keast.
Tony Barron also got a second win when Macy Blue Chip stopped the timer at 2:02.8 in the 1700 metre Southern Belle Speed Series heat. Her time compares well to Raksdeal’s track record of 2:01.4. Despite going from the outside of the second line in the 13-horse field, junior driver Maruia Parker was soon able to negotiate a passage to the one-one from where she launched her attack. Although many of New Zealand’s best have driven Macy Blue Chip through her five-win career, Parker has been on six times for three wins and two seconds.
“She’s been a very good horse for me,” she said after the win.
Barron said Macy Blue Chip had been sold in November but the money didn’t arrive. She is raced by the Gold Chip Syndicate, many if its members are from Oamaru, so Barron will consider her now for the 3000 metre Oamaru Cup on 21 January.
*** The Brent Shirley-trained Franco Sherborne won a C0 2200 metre mobile in a swift 2:42.8 on debut.
The four-year-old is a gelded son of Sally Franco and his dam is a half sister to Satire Franco who has left a number of top performers from the Shirley barn such as When The Musics Over and Costa Del Magnifico.
After winning five in New Zealand, When The Musics Over was sold to Mick Filluel of Tasmania and won another 11 races. Filluel shares in the ownership of Franco Sherborne, a $13,000 purchase at the 2013 premier sale.
He was driven by Canterbury junior Matt Anderson and his third winner this season for Shirley, including Costa Del Magnifico. In March Anderson won the group three Fillies Classic on Northern Velocity at the March meeting of the Northern Southland Club.
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