Update on Summer Christmas/New Year Racing

from December 2011.....................

 

Manukau Trotting Club - 22 December 2011

Benji Maguire did not flatter in his race early in the evening. But his stable mate and the other horse owned in part by the Him and Her Syndicate, provided everyone with a great thrill when she won her maiden assignment on the last race of the night.

Annie Mach was the favourite for the race with good trial form coming into it. However, Secret Love sat in the trail and beat her by a head when utilising the passing lane. The late night meant nothing!

Cambridge/Te Awamutu 29 December 2011

The grass track circuit started with the Cambridge/Te Awamutu meeting at Waipa on the galloping track. What a cracking start to this time of year.

It started with a 3rd by Aussie Rulz owned by D S Kessell and Mrs B H Kessell. Previously trained by the owner, the trotter transferred to White Star Stables with a view to following the northern grass circuit from Nicky's Cambridge barn.

Nicky managed a winner early in the day, in the 2nd race, on the Michelle Wallis trained Courtney Cass owned by D C Chandler and J Powell, a 7yr old mare having her 49th start and recording her 5th win.

In the 3rd on the day it was the first start for the Summer Fun No.1 Syndicate for their horse Alta Cleopatra and she did not disgrace herself at all. In fact, it was a very promising run which augers well for the future and the fun the members of the syndicate will have with the Bettors Delight mare.

Ohoka Colorado had the reputation of being a smart horse from the Tony Herlihy barn, and so it proved in the 4th race on the day. However, not to be out-done, Lindenny's Star, a 4yr old mare owned by long time stable clients Alan and Lyn Messenger of Inglewood the horse ran home strongly for 2nd.

What can you say about O'Sheas that has not been said before in previous news items on this site. He does not know he is 11 years old and so it proved. He only got beaten by a lip by another old-timer - Perigo who is 14 years old and still going as well as ever. You can always rely on O'Sheas to put in an honest run, and that is exactly what he is doing at the present.

Another win on the card by Nicky but this time as a driver in Race 7 for owners Steve and Anne Phillips on their mare Shannara.

Then to the Te Awamutu Grass Cup Handicap Pace and President Tomado beat the field winning by 2.5 lengths on the line. She has had 39 starts for 7 wins, all coming on the grass tracks. She is certainly running in great form and with any luck, should continue to do so over the summer period.

Cambridge/Te Awamutu 30 December 2011

Bettor's Image and Leroy Brogden both ran into 3rd placings in their respective races on this night and Precious Mach proved an emphatic winner in the Junior Drivers event, when driven by Zac Butcher.

Auckland Trotting Club - 31 December 2011

It is an an achievement to have a horse race at Alexandra Park on a Premier Race Day and that is exactly what happened for the happy owners of Secret Love who qualified for the Consolation of the ALABAR SIRES STAKES FILLIES CHAMPIONSHIP (SILVER) MOB.PACE   $17,000, 3YO FILLIES MOBILE, 2200m. It was a strong run for 5th and everyone was thrilled with the effort.

Thames Harness Racing Club - Parawai - 8 January 2012

it was a very soggy day at Thames on the Grass, but that did not stop J D's Chrimar and Mac Robinson having a win in the first race of the day in the Amateur Drivers' Event. (Who taught him to do the whip salute right on the line?????). it was Mac's first win in the Advanced Amateur Driving ranks and he is still walking around on Cloud 9 even a week later.

Again the rest of the team acquitted themselves well. Diamond Smile ran 2nd, President Tomado ran 3rd in the Cup and Lindenny's Star ran 2nd. Apart from the trotting races and the cup which was a stand handicap race, all the other races were started by rolling starts as the mobile gate was out of action,due to the state of the track. Most runs can be discounted because of the unusual race day being so wet.

Morrinsville TC - Sunday 15 January 2012 (Grass at Te Aroha)

The weather was fine and sunny for the Morrinsville TC meeting on the grass at Te Aroha and again the White Star Stables team ran with distinction. First up was Alta Cleopatra for the Summer Fun No. 1 Syndicate and again she proved what an honest mare she is with a gallant 2nd picking up valuable stake money for the syndicate. The old war horse J D's Chrimar gave Megan Teaz a good drive into 4th placing in his assignment. Aussie Rulz ran 4th in the trot and Secret Love came with a whirl-wind finish from last to finish 2nd behind the very classy Ohoka Colarado.

Kapiti Coast HRC - Friday 20 and 22 January 2012 (Grass at Otaki)

As in past years, Nicky took a limited team down to Otaki for the annual Kapiti Coast meeting. One horse on the truck that has raced for the past 4 weeks, was Alta Cleopatra. Nicky decided that as the mare was continuing to race well and was coming through the races satisfactorily and there were a number of synidcate members living down in the vicinity, she would race again for the two day meeting. "Cleo" did not disappoint - albeit the draws were against her. She ran very well for a 4th on the first day and 5th on the second day.

O'Sheas ran another honest 4th place on the first day and 5th on the second day. Lindenny's Star - raced by Mr and Mrs Messenger from Inglewood, finished 3rd on the first day and 2nd on the second day. Diamond Smile also owned by Mr and Mrs Messenger, was severely hampered by a breaking running on the first day of the meeting but finished a good 4th on the second day. On the second day, grass track cups winning mare President Tomado lined up with the Otaki Grass Track Cup and finished a gallant 2nd to a running from the Ian Small barn.

On the first day Nicky drove a winner in Ell Raisor for trainer Mrs A M Best. On the second day Nicky again drove a winner - this time Tijuana Bromac - again for trainer Mrs A M Best.

Auckland Trotting Club - Friday 27 January 2012

Precious Mach ran a 1.57.9 mile rate to win her heat of the CADUCEUS CLUB MILE HIGH MARES SERIES HEAT 5 MOBILE PACE. It was a good run by the mare that Nicky has always had a very high regard for. She has now won 5 races from 20 starts and $28,935 in stakes to date.

Bay of Plenty HRC - Sunday 29 January 2012 (Grass at Tauranga)

The best way to describe the racing on this day was "out of luck". First starter Presidential Style was unfortunate to suffer a broken hopple as she paced over the crossing. Leroy Brogden got no luck and was looking for racing room up the straight - unable to find it he broke free of interference. Secret Love went out favourite as a result of her last start 2nd placing but she found the grass track at Tauranga very rough and for a horse that is very well gaited - she broke just as the mobile gate pulled away dropped to the back of the field and was running on at the finish, but out of a placing.

Benji Maguire, who has not come up to expectations this season, put in a gallant effort to finish 5th. However, he has grown so much between his 2 and 3yr old years that Nicky has decided to give him a long break so he can grow into his very large frame, strengthen up and then bring him back at the end of his 3yr old season or as an early 4 year old. Aussie Rulz (trotter) was promoted to 4th in his race.

Mac Robinson was almost tipped out of the sulky behind J D's Chrimar in the Amateur Drivers' Event but his increasing skill as a driver enabled J D's Chrimar to continue on for a very creditable 3rd in his race.

 

 

And so the summer continues...........this page will be updated as the grass track summer racing circuit continues.............

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News December 2010

 

News March 2011

 

News July 2011

 

News October/November 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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