From Maidens to Metro Winners
There has been a theme running through the winners in the new season so far for the stable, that of the new brigade breaking through for their maiden wins and stable stalwarts notching up metropolitan victories. Canterbury has proven a happy hunting ground with the team notching up three victories. It was a sweet return to the winners circle in August for ALL AMERICAN mare KAWAIKINI, with patience paying off for a sixth win taking her earnings to over $280,000. September brought a double for the stable as GRIMOIRE bucked his previous record to power home for a first up win, earning his first metropolitan victory and suggesting a strong preparation is in store. Earlier that day ST COVET'S SPIRIT shed her maiden tag finding all the gaps in the straight to find the post in time with a perfectly timed ride by Kathy O'Hara. Meanwhile at Royal Randwick, VALENTINO ROSSA picked up his first Saturday metropolitan victory under Nash Rawiller, getting the bob on the line.
It was a family affair at Kembla Grange, with the Esplin family owned mare ZEDITY producing maiden winners RANCHO NOTORIOUS and ZEDWARD in quick succession. Four year old HIGH CHAPARRAL gelding RANCHO NOTORIOUS showed great tenacity down the straight to earn his first win over the 1200m, aided by the 3kg claim of apprentice Louise Day. A few weeks later, it was his three year old CHARGE FORWARD sired half-sister that stole the show over the 1000m, ZEDWARD burning the candle at both ends to put pay to them by 1.8 lengths in quick time.
The provincial circuit saw another two first time winners in SIRMAZE and MO'S CROWN. At Hawkesbury, SIRMAZE relished the mile and softer conditions provided, coming from the tail of the field to peel wide down the stretch and tough it out, beating the field home by 1.3 lengths. At Wyong, it was a stable quinella as MO'S CROWN broke through for his first victory in the heavy conditions, beating out stablemate BLUFF 'N' BLUSTER. Congratulations to all of the connections, we look forward to what the rest of the season has in store for these runners.