Happy Star and Never Look Back claim Manawatu features
A revitalised former National winner and a rising star claimed top honours in Wednesday’s rescheduled jumping features at Trentham.
The Manawatu ITM Manawatu Hurdles (2500m) went the way of Happy Star (NZ) (Fabulous), a horse that is no stranger to feature success having won the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m), Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and was stakes-placed in a Rotorua Cup (2200m).
Defending champion Billy Boy (NZ) (So You Think) started favourite in the race, with Happy Star in contention at $6.30 alongside stablemate So Call Me (NZ) (Sweynesse) ($5.70).
Prepared by Kevin Myers, Happy Star settled nicely in the running for jockey Emily Farr while Billy Boy assumed his regular role at the head of the field. The son of Fabulous stepped his fences well and was full of running at the 800m, and after taking control on the home turn, proved too strong for So Call Me to take the contest by 2 ½ lengths.
Myers was pleased to see him back at his best, having come back from injury prior to last season.
“He’s had that bit of time off and he’s improving all the time, he’s back down in the weights now so we’ll probably come back to Wellington and head down to the National,” Myers said. “That’ll be his last hurrah.
“Last year we wanted to get him through and make sure he was 100 percent sound, but this year we are able to train him like a sound horse, which is making a big difference. He probably will have a steeplechase this year too at some point, he jumps them well.”
Farr was delighted to take the feature, with her partner Johno Benner in the ownership of Happy Star alongside Simon Barber.
“I’ve only had one race day start on him at Te Aroha and he didn’t actually go that well for me, so I said to Johno, maybe I’m not the person to ride him,” she said. “But I rode him at the point-to-points, and we have a nice association.
“My only strategy was to ride a race on him whether that be leading and dictating or taking a sit, but he was a bit slow away and he just switched off.
“He was wonderful, he jumped incredibly and after filling up the lungs in the back straight, he had plenty left and was strong in the finish.
“Thank you to Kevin, Ange, Caley and all of their team, they do a fantastic job of preparing and looking after him.”
Farr had a day to remember at the Upper Hutt course, also claiming the Manawatu ITM Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) aboard Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking).
Already proven over the hurdles, Never Look Back was having his first attempt over the bigger fences for trainer Gail Temperton and was backed right into short-priced favouritism.
He wasn’t an easy steer for Farr for much of the figure-eight circuit, racing keenly and finding himself up near the leaders. Despite this, he was right in contention as the pressure dialled up and fought out the finish with a game Saint Bernard, just having the upper hand late to stride clear by 1 ¼ lengths.
Farr was rapt to come out on top, particularly for a loyal supporter in Temperton who co-bred and co-owns the seven-year-old.
“Gail has been through a lot recently losing her partner and she’s always been so amazing, she wanted to have the horses ready and making sure Sparky (Never Look Back) was ready for today,” Farr said.
“We came here last Thursday, and I was really impressed with the way he jumped, so I was super confident with him and having had the hurdle run, I knew he was fit enough.
“He pulled really hard which is something we are working on, but he jumped super, he got himself out of tricky spots that a first-starter over steeples wouldn’t normally be able to do.
“I held him as long as I could, but he flew the double so I tried to see if I could get to the inside, but I didn’t have too – he was just too good. He was still a little bit novicey, he had a good look at the last, but he has the turn of foot to pick up on the flat.
“He’s just awesome.” - Jess de Lautour
Stakes bound filly shows measure of family talent
Memories of a former stable star were rekindled at Trentham on Wednesday for Robbie Patterson when Shamelia Kirk (NZ) (Shamexpress) made short work of her two-year-old rivals.
The New Plymouth trainer produced the speedy filly to claim top honours in the Let’s Keep Racing At Trentham Supporters’ Club Sprint (1000m) and confirm plans for upcoming stakes assignments.
A daughter of Shamexpress, Shamelia Kirk is a three-quarter sister to Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress), who won 11 races from Patterson’s stable and gave him his first taste of top-flight success in his own right.
That was celebrated in the 2022 edition of the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and at her following appearances added the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie to her decorated record.
“She was my first Group One on my own, when I was in partnership with Kevin Gray we won the New Zealand Oaks with Legs,” Patterson said.
While Shamelia Kirk has showed her talent earlier than Coventina Bay, they physically share a lot in common.
“They’ve both got the same attitude and same action, but she has come a year sooner than Coventina Bay who had back problems,” Patterson said.
Runner-up on debut last month, Shamelia Kirk was quickly into stride to make the running and, under hands and heels riding from apprentice Jim Chung, sailed clear in the run home to score in a canter.
“It’s what I expected should happen, it’s not always that easy in this game but she was too fast for them,” Patterson said.
Her Trentham performance has now locked in cracks at next month’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) and Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m).
“We’ll see how she pulls up and if she’s fine then we’ll chase the black type,” Patterson said.
“She’ll probably have two more runs before a break, we’ll probably keep away from the early three-year-old fillies’ races and on top of the ground she’ll scoot along.”
Shamelia Kirk is raced under the EVB Ltd banner of Wayne Darling, who also bred and part-owned Coventina Bay and at the end of her career, she was sold at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale for A$625,000 to Australasian powerhouse Yulong.
“He was going to syndicate this one, but I said to him after she won her first trial that he should keep her on his own,” Patterson said. - Paul Vettise
Jumps to spark Smokin’ Romans at Sandown
Smokin' Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) has undergone a course of jumping that the Ciaron Maher stable hopes will rejuvenate the Group 1 winner.
The rising 10-year-old recently ran second in a hurdle school at Traralgon in preparation for his second-up run of the campaign in the Quayclean Handicap (1800m) at Sandown on Saturday.
Victorious in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in October 2022, Smokin' Romans has been winless since taking out the Warrnambool Cup (2350m) in May last year.
His best result was a second in a 2000m contest at Caulfield last August with a further eight unplaced efforts.
Jack Turnbull, the National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, said Smokin' Romans shows plenty of promise as a jumper, but whether he actually races over jumps remains an open question.
"We're just trying to get him on the front foot. Trying to find that zest again," Turnbull said.
"He's very natural at it and if our team had our way, we would love to (jump him).
"Steven Pateman rode him and said give him another one and then 'let's rock 'n' roll', but with the (ownership) group it gets a little bit political.
"He's had a pretty decorated career. He won the Turnbull and has been successful since, so whether he goes down that path, we'll see.
"He may have another one as part of his training and conditioning, but he is very good at it, as is his brother Flamin' Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) who will go jumping."
Smokin' Romans will be joined in Saturday's race by Gilded Water (Fastnet Rock) who finished a long last in his return run over Saturday's course and distance on May 23.
Gilded Water, raced by His Majesty The King, was diagnosed post-race with internal exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage.
Turnbull said Gilded Water had been thoroughly vetted since his first-up flop.
"I know he had an internal bleed, and everything didn't go to plan, but that is something we can change and manage," Turnbull said.
"He's had that run now and hopefully we can get on a track that is better for him.
"With him, it's a bit of a balance because he's a hard going horse and you have to find that happy medium.
"We deal with this often, and not just with the better horses, but lower, mid-tier animals have it as well and it's something you just have to deal with." - NZ Racing Desk
NZ Racing Desk
New Zealand Bloodstock
Jess de Lautour
