GREAT START TO 2011!

What a great start to 2011!

 

The grass track circuit, which is the traditional start of the summer racing season, commenced with the Wanganui HRC at Wanganui on 19 December 2010. Unfortunately for both the club and the participants the rain detracted from the success of the day.

 

However, it did not dampen the spirits of the White Star Stables team, particularly when O'Sheas started what would prove to be a most successful three-month period. It was a very emotional win by O'Sheas (see Winners Circle of November 2010) as described in the article written by Barry Lichter.

 

It did not finish there - Diamond Smile added another winner for the stable. Part owned by local Inglewood couple Lynne and Alan Messenger. Captain Gibbs and J D's Chrimar both ran second in their respective races and McArdle Lassie finished third in her race.

 

So, despite the weather at Wanganui, the team went really well.

 

Move on to the Cambridge-Te Awamutu HRC on 24 December 2010 where despite not getting winning success, the team racing at the traditional Christmas Eve twilight meeting ran well. The old war horse J D's Chrimar ran 2nd in his race and Leroy Brogden and Copy My Past ran 2nd and 3rd after competing in the same race for maiden pacers. Copy My Past raced again on 14 January 2011at Cambridge and produced another 2nd placing.

This is what happened over the next 4-6 weeks.

Back to the grass at Waipa for the Cambridge-Te Awamutu HRC on 29 December 2010. A big team took part again. Nicky trained and drove a winner being Diamond Smile. This being two in a row for the Grinfromeartoear-Tabella Bindy 4 year old gelding. McArdle Lassie was again consistent and ran 3rd.

 

Thames Harness Racing Club which normally race at Alexandra Park in Auckland, held their annual grass track meeting at Parawai Racecourse in Thames on 9 January 2011, a week following the annual galloping meeting on the same course. Again, White Star Stables enjoyed success. Miss Invasion, bred and raced by Graeme Chilcott, was successful on the grass. She had previous good grass track placings at Hawera the previous Easter and while she had shown potential, a win had taken a bit longer to come due to problems she had endured with her feet. Nicky had persevered knowing she had the ability. Another winner on the day was President Tomado. The 5 year old mare by Presidential Ball out of Waingaro Lassie bred and part owned by Mac Robinson, was starting to realise the potential that the team knew she had.

 

The picturesque racecourse at Te Aroha hosted the Morrinsville Trotting Club on Sunday 16 January 2011. This is always a great picnic meeting and the fine, warm weather added to the great day for patrons. Again President Tomado was successful, but this time she won a Cup race for her owners, winning the Morrinsville Grass Cup and taking home the race by a head over Mighty Creation and Speedstar. The ever consistent war horse J D's Chrimar finished 4th in his race later in the day.

 

An interlude from the grass track circuit took place when Leroy Brogden was sent to Alexandra Park for the Manukau Trotting Club event on 20 January 2011. What an exciting night this was for the syndicate of owners who reside in Auckland, New Plymouth, Cambridge, Morrinsville, and Canterbury. Leroy Brogden raced again at Cambridge-Te Awamutu HRC on 3 February 2011 finishing 4th.

 

Photograph to the right is Leroy Brogden returning to the winners circle at Alexandra Park on Thursday 20 January 2011

 

The team hit the road and travelled south to Otaki for the two-day meeting of the Kapiti Coast HRC held on 21 and 23 January 2011. What a horse J D's Chrimar is. Seldom does he go a bad race and what a win in the Otaki Cup Prelude on the first day. The 8 year old winning by 2 lengths. The second day was just as good with Alien Waits showing his class on the grass by winning and McArdle Lassie again showing strength to run 2nd in her race.

 

The Bay of Plenty HRC raced at Gate Pa on the grass on 30 January 2011 and Diamond Smile again flew the White Star Stables flag by finishing 4th on the day.

 

Stratford hosted their annual meeting on 13 February 2011 and this time Loki Brogden was successful in his maiden trotting race. Bred and raced by Graeme Chilcott along with Graham and Judy Bowen of Brogden Lodge, they were on hand at Stratford to enjoy the success. O'Sheas ran 4th in his race and the ever consistent Diamond Smile won again making it 3 wins in his last 7 starts. Overall he has had 10 starts for 3 wins to date.

 

Wealthy Warrior ran a good 3rd at Manawatu HRC on 24 February 2011.

 

 

As can be seen above, White Star Stables has enjoyed a good summer early Autumn period and everyone has high hopes that the team can continue to be consistent going forward.

 

 

 

 

A note from Nicky: "I have a number of contacts/owners in the Canterbury area and with all the events over the past few weeks, I hope everyone has come through without too much harm. You are in our thoughts and although we have seen the pictures of the devastation on the television, we cannot really imagine what some of you are going through. I and all my team wish you all the best and you are in our thoughts"

 

 

 

News December 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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