Newsletter
Welcome to the July 2011 newsletter
LATEST STABLE NEWS
- Staff Update - Alan Shand drives winner for stable and Mac Robinson gains Advanced Amateur Drivers' Licence
- Current qualified and race horse information
- Syndicate Race horses review
Photos and Horse Updates
Horse Updates continued and News
(Above) Precious Mach (Courtesy of Trish Dunnell part owner of the filly)
(Above) Sales Notices from Brogden Lodge for Landoras Jewel and Leroy Brogden.
Cambridge Raceway - old entrance gates.
Stable Updates:
Presidential Style - Filly by Presidential Ball from Cosmic Quest. A half-sister to Cosmic Illusion. Has had two workout runs and won them both. She went sore and was turned out prior to being able to run in a qualifying trial. She is expected back into the stable in August. She is a really nice filly and hopefully she can make the grade in the new season by qualifying and ultimately getting to the races.
Copy My Past - 3 Br g Live Or Die-Miss Alliance
He had good season where he picked up about $10,000 in stakes for 8 starts - 2 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third. Part owned by local harness racing identify Tony Butler and his mother Raewyn, they enjoyed a good early 3 year old season with this horse.
He is back jogging with his owner and will be back in the stable once he gets a bit fitter. He has done a great job early, but will improve further with a bit more time.
Serene Queen - 3 Bl f Dream Vacation-Becalm Lobell. Qualified and had three race starts. She showed plenty but as with most young trotters, manners are a key factor. She started showing some growing pains and was spelled for a short time.
Shows potential and is a nice filly with a good attitude. She is bred to be good from the well performed American bred mare, Becalm Lobell which was trained throughout her race career by Robert Mitchell and gained 6 wins in 32 starts.
Hazel Brogden - 2 B f P-Forty-Seven-Miss Hazel. Bred and owned by Graeme and Judy Bowen. Out for a long spell.
Leroy Brogden - As at beginning of July, has had 14 Starts for 1 win and 4 seconds but has been unlucky in a few runs when races have not been run to suit him. A real sit/sprint type he has not had the favour of draws to allow him to race in his best style. However, he has also been disappointing when expected to run into the places against moderate opposition. Leroy had a good Easter at Hawera and just went down by a nose on the first day and Nicky copped a fine on the second day when she failed to come up into her place behind the mobile and he ran on for 7th on a very wet track. Likely to have one more run before going out for a spell.
Precious Mach - This season (to 8 July 2011) has had 13 starts for 2 wins, 1 second and 2 thirds. The latest win coming at the Franklin TC meeting at Alexandra Park on Friday 8 July 2011.
The filly has been a bit disappointing prior to the win at Franklin on 8 July. Both trainer and owners had high expectations for the filly competing in good 3yr old filly races. However, along the way she has had some bad luck in her races.
She was a late foal (28 January 2008) and it may be that she has been going through a growing phase. However, she has raced right through the autumn/winter period - mostly at Alexandra Park and acquitted herself very well culminating in another win.
To date she has had a total of 15 starts for 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds and hopefully more to come!
Miss invasion - Has suffered an injury and is out spelling. She is an older half sister to the stable star "Loki Brogden" bred by Nicky's father Graeme out of his good mare Local Choice. She has had a lifetime record of 10 starts for 1 win and 2 seconds.
Landora's Jewel - Filly is back in work and is a definite work in progress. Again with young trotters, manners are the key and she has to learn some albeit she has shown ability at the trotting gait.
Loki Brogden - What can you say? The stable star and a background is on the Featured Horse page.
A few young horses are in the stable and as they progress towards workouts and qualifying trials, the website will be updated.
Staff Updates:
During the winter months the stable reduces numbers of horses in work and gives the staff a perfect opportunity to take some time off. See the News page for "Trainers and Drivers Down Time".
Emma Hale - Continues to be a wonderful asset to the White Star Stables team as part of the ground staff along with part-timer Zoe.
Alan Shand - Has really stepped up to the 
mark with Nicky having plenty of confidence in him and the rest of the team to go away on a short holiday break during early June and leaving Alan and the other staff to keep the stable ticking over.
Alan had success on Wealthy Warrior at a Tuesday meeting held at Cambridge Raceway before that horse was sold to Australia.
Mac Robinson - Mac continues to help out on a part-time basis at the stables.
He has now qualified as an Advanced Amateur Driver and is able to drive in Amateur Driving Events as a tote race. He had to have 10 workout drives to the satisfaction of a stipendary steward and then pass a time trial also in front of a stipendary steward.
The tote races for Amateur Drivers are usually held on the Tuesday meetings and Nicky will assist Mac in obtaining drives in those races. Go Mac!!!
Syndicate Horses:
Benji Maguire and Secret Love have completed their initial race preparation and season as 2 year olds..
Benji Maguire had 7 starts resulting in 1 second and 2 thirds. He competed up against some consistent group race performers such as Cowgirls N Indians (a 2yr old Jewels winner at Ashburton), Lets Elope a Group 1 winner at Addington for Frank Cooney, and Fly Like An Eagle from the Purdon/Payne barn, also a group race winner. Benji acquited himself very well against these horses.
He is now out in the paddock having a well deserved break and will then be prepared for his 3 year old season and the syndicate have obviously high hopes for that.
Secret Love was 6th in her debut at Alexandra Park where O Baby won who subsequently went on to win a Group race. She had another race at Alexandra Park before being turned out again.
Having white feet has been an issue for the filly and when she comes back for her 3 year old season, Nicky will manage her differently in her training to cope with foot soreness. She also went through a big growth spurt and that is why she only had two starts as a 2 year old.