Wanganui stables sweep Hawera jumps races
Dorothy’s Daughter and Verry Flash (NZ) (Zed) delivered a winning double for Wanganui stables in the two jumping races at Hawera on Saturday.
The first cab off the rank was the Niall Quinn-trained Dorothy’s Daughter (NZ) (Roc de Cambes), who brought up her first win over jumps in the Julian Family Maiden Hurdle (3100m).
The daughter of Roc De Cambes had shown ability on the flat, recording a win and three placings from 27 starts, and she had placed in two of her three attempts over hurdles.
She broke through in style on Saturday, racing in midfield and jumping nicely throughout the race for Irish jockey Jordan Hart. Dorothy’s Daughter pounced at the top of the straight and soon stamped her authority on the race, pulling away to win by three lengths.
Quinn had also entered Dorothy’s Daughter for Saturday’s G & A Hill Trust Rating 60 (2100m) on the flat, but pulled the right rein in opting for the hurdle event.
“When you’re able to book a good Irish rider, you know you can trust them to do a good job,” Quinn said, having given his compatriot Hart his first win in New Zealand.
“I was really happy with this mare’s last run, and her two previous races over hurdles were very good too.
“I’ve been very happy with her jumping and it’s good to finally get the result today. I think she can kick on next season. She’ll take a lot of improvement out of this and keep going forward, hopefully.”
The Heather D Yaxley Maiden Steeplechase (3900m) was won by the Kevin Myers-trained Verry Flash, who now has a steeplechase win to his name alongside his 11 wins on the flat and four over hurdles.
Verry Flash was meant to be ridden by Kylan Wiles, who was stood down after suffering an arm injury in a fall during the hurdle race. The mount was snapped up by Emily Farr, who had brought up the 100th and 101st wins of her career with a jumps double at Woodville last Sunday.
Farr played her part to perfection as Verry Flash’s fill-in jockey, settling in fourth before cruising into contention approaching the home turn. Verry Flash’s superior ability on the flat shone through late in the race and he opened up a winning margin of six and a quarter lengths.
Verry Flash was bred by the late Don Goodwin and is raced by his estate in partnership with Nick Bishara. The Zed gelding is a full-brother to Goodwin’s pride and joy, the 11-time Group One winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed).
Verry Flash has carved out a highly successful career of his own with 85 starts for 16 wins, 13 seconds, nine thirds and $443,219 in stakes.
Saturday’s maiden steeplechase was marred by Our Daymo’s (NZ) (Zed) heavy fall in the home straight. His rider Ellie Callwood escaped serious injury, but Raymond Connors’ talented seven-year-old gelding was sadly unable to be saved.
