By Mac Henry
Invercargill trainer Wayne Adams and his stable driver Shane Walkinshaw won consecutive races with three year olds of each gender at Ascot Park on Monday.
Enhancing the success for Adams was that he and partner Nancy Swain are the owners of Sportzstar, a three year old gelding by Sportswriter they purchased for $22,500 at the 2015 premier sale. Sportzstar, from the family of Tintin In America, became the fifth New Zealand-bred winner by Sportswriter.
The big horse had run second in a couple of trials as a two year old but Adams didn’t judge them good enough to race him. Sportzstar’s debut was delayed until October, he finished fourth, with Monday’s run only his second.
“He got crook before Christmas, had a high white cell count,” Adams said.
From two on the second line Sportzstar easily found a spot three-back on the inner from where launched his attack across the top the last time.
“I got a dream run through at the start and got off when I wanted,” Walkinshaw said.
Filly Argyle Beach was winning at her fifth start and Walkinshaw said leading into the head wind was his only worry. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere and the Christian Cullen mare Summer Ale was bred and is raced by Tony Irwin of Dacre, Ian Stewart of Bluff and Maurice Stevenson Christchurch.
Argyle Beach is the second foal of Summer Ale whose first, Summertime Lizzie, won twice for Adams in 2015. She was sold to Australia and won in 1:52.8 at Menangle.
Only four drivers were successful on the eight-race programme. Dexter Dunn was top of the heap with three beginning with the claimers on C7 runner Expresso Martini. The son of Bettors Delight was claimed for $8000 by Wayne Pope. At the end of the day, Dunn won on Baileys Rock, another by Bettors Delight who was the only sire to strike twice. The three year old is trained by Cran Dalgety for Jim and Susan Wakefield.
In between, Dunn scored on the trotter Moa Bones. The grey daughter of Monkey Bones is owned by Russell Nevill of Moa Creek and raced on lease by Keith and Tracey Norman, Tracey’s sister Kelly Chittock and husband Andrew, along with Mike and Christine Farley. She is trained in the Catlins by Keith’s brother Brian.
It was the second time the Normans and Farleys had shared success following Percius at Forbury Park in March 2015. Dunn was also the winning driver then. Percius was sold to Butterworth Racing in May the same year.
Moa Bones started her career in 2013 with Ben Waldron and was at Invercargill in March 2014 when she had her first win. Keith Norman said that even back then he liked Moa Bones for no other reason than he felt “she showed ability between gallops”. He tried to lease her then without success.
Moa Bones won her next two races from the stable of Geoff and Jude Knight and finally, at the end of last season, Keith Norman was able get her.
“We got a free lease, she will be returned for breeding,” he said.
The seven year old has won more than $6000 since joining Brian Norman who finds her a no-issue addition to his team.
Blair Orange was the second driver to grab a brace of wins, successful on the three year old colt Makers Mark from the stable of Nigel McGrath, and the Brent Shirley-trained Glenburn Joy.
Brent Barclay was the other winning driver, taking the maiden trot on Smokey Mac. One of five three year olds to win on Monday, he is a colt by Thanksgiving and Uncatchable, raced by John and Pam MacLeod of Winton. Pam MacLeod said they purchased Uncatchable from Tania Hope and have had two foals from the mare. Both have now won, the first being The Badger in 2015.
Smokey Mac is trained by Brett Gray who took the three year on about 12 months ago and said he always showed ability but in his first two goes on raceday, broke. On Saturday, two days ago, Gray took him to the Invercargill workouts.
“I took all the gear off him and put an undercheck on, he won so I did the same today,” said Gray.
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