NZ briefs: Hurdler overcomes late mistakes to complete hat-trick
Dashing jumper The Shackler was his own worst enemy at Hastings, but he was nimble enough to get himself out of trouble to post a memorable home track victory.
The rising 11-year-old continued his career-best form to triumph in the Anuka Smoker Wellington Hurdles, rescheduled to Hawke’s Bay after the abandonment of last Saturday’s Trentham meeting.
As is his custom, The Shackler made all the running and after putting the pressure on 1000 metres from home he shook off his closest chaser to be out on his own into the straight.
“He was going kindly and when Thatz David came up to us we picked it up again and it was game over,” rider Aaron Kuru said.
That was in spite of The Shackler making a mess of the final two flights, going down on his nose at the penultimate and rapping the last.
“He was probably travelling too well and luckily enough he stayed up,” Kuru said.
The Shackler is raced by Shaun Dromgool, whose brother Michael trained the Istidaad gelding before he was transferred earlier this year to Paul Nelson.
He has now won three of his four hurdle starts from his new quarters following runaway successes at Trentham and at Te Aroha.
“He’s a pretty fair horse and Aaron looked after him,” said Nelson, who has yet to confirm the gelding’s future programme.
Justa Charlie came on gamely to finish runner-up ahead of Thatz David, who continued his proud record in the race as a past winner and now four-time placegetter.
Astor too good at Hawke’s Bay
Iffraaj two-year-old Astor was too strong for her opposition in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series two-year-old race at Hastings on Thursday.
Drawn the ace barrier, the Danica Guy-trained runner jumped well and led throughout to win by a length and a half over Kate Louise with Eva Dawn back in third.
“Nothing really got near enough to her to test her,” Guy said.
“She did get a bit lost in the home straight I thought, she was just waiting on them a little bit. But she was brave and kept up her gallop and got the job done.”
Astor will now be set for the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings on September 23.
“We will probably find another soft run for her and then come back to Hastings for the Gold Trail,” Guy said.
“Whether we just take her to a trial leading into the Gold Trail or whether I give her a soft run up around home somewhere we’ll just see what fits in the best.”
Well-bred colt stars on debut
A high-priced Karaka yearling has made the perfect start to his career in Sydney.
The Savabeel colt Addictive Nature, a $775,000 purchase out of Little Avondale Stud’s draft, was successful over 1100m at Warwick Farm in his first appearance from Bjorn Baker’s stable.
“It’s nice to see him put them away like that,” stable representative Jack Bruce said. “He’s got the good looks, but he’s also got the good manners that are so important for a colt.”
Addictive Nature is a brother to the Australian Group Two winner and Group One placegetter Savvy Nature.
Debut success rewards patience
Waiting tactics with the strapping mare Princess Maryanne were rewarded when she posted a runaway debut victory at Hastings on Thursday.
Trained by Lisa Latta for Lincoln Farms, the four-year-old daughter of Darci Brahma won both of her trials this preparation before cantering home in the Carrfields Livestock 1200.
“I had the opportunity to ride her at the trials and she’s a big, strong mare with a good turn of foot,” successful rider Leah Hemi said.
Victory aboard Princess Maryanne was Hemi’s 40th for the season and equalled her best ever tally achieved in 2015-16.
Sea King ruled out of Mosstrooper
A Victorian rule of racing counted out Sea King’s bid for a third consecutive victory in the Mosstrooper Steeplechase at Bendigo on Sunday.
A New Zealand jumper must compete in either a steeplechase race or trial at home during the current campaign before they are allowed to run over the big fences in Australia.
Sea King will instead run in the Brendan Dreschler Hurdle at Bendigo for Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers before he transfers to Patrick Payne’s care.
“He’s been running in hurdles in New Zealand so he didn’t have a chance to qualify,” Payne said.
“He’s a good hurdler, but he likes the tempo of a steeple. He’s quite a slow horse that’s got a lot of stamina, but they’ll be too dashing for him I’d think.”