NZ HARNESS NEWS
Untapped Southland filly Balcatherine kept her unbeaten record intact when winning at Ascot Park on Monday.
The American Ideal three-year-old made it two wins from two starts in taking out the $10,600 Ladyship Stakes graduation final.
Balcatherine has looked a raw product with plenty of improvement to come in both of her impressive wins.
Trainer Brent McIntyre said he is yet to put any real pressure on the filly.
“I have been looking after her, so she is untapped, definitely.
“Everything she has done has been natural, we have never screwed her down.
“We have just got her fit and looked after her and she has done the job.
“Hopefully it doesn’t stop too soon.”
Balcatherine showed she was well above average with an excellent maiden win
McIntyre’s patience with the pacer was on show before Monday’s race.
He resisted the temptation to line her up again over the summer holiday racing circuit, waiting nearly a month to give her a second start.
Balcatherine’s third race start may come much sooner.
Should she recover well from Monday’s win, she could line up in the Nugget graduation final on Invercargill Cup day.
“She pulled up unreal. I will just see what she eats up like in the morning.”
Beyond this week, Balcatherine has the Southland Oaks as her long-range target.
“That is what she will be aimed at.
“I will just take her quietly through, I think time will be her friend.
“She is quite a rangy filly and we don’t want to over race her.”
Balcatherine is bred and raced by McIntyre’s Macca Lodge stud.
She is the third winner from the three foals they have bred from Holmes Hanover mare Touche Franco.
Royal Mattjesty gelding Levi Jade won one race in New Zealand before notching a further nine wins in Australia.
Glenisla raced in the Young Guns series in New Zealand before going on to win 19 races in Australia.
Balcatherine is the third foal Macca Lodge has bred from the mare, who they purchased from Bromac Lodge.
McIntyre said Touche Franco was bred to American Ideal to try to replicate the pedigree of former star North American mare American Jewel.
Balcatherine shares the same fourth dam, US$735,759 earner Three Diamonds, with the world-record-breaker, American Jewel.
“When you try these things nine times out of ten they don’t come off, but it worked this time.”
Macca Lodge is preparing a much smaller than usual draft for this year’s yearling sales alongside its racing team.
A Bettor’s Delight colt from Christian Cullen mare Holly Marie is the only yearling the stud will present at Christchurch next month.
Holly Marie’s second foal, Annajodi, won at Blenhiem on Sunday.
- NZ Harness News
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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