Broodmare Satire Franco produced another winner when John Coltrane won his first race at the Winton Harness racing meeting today (Sunday).
The Real Desire four year old became the sixth winner of the nine foals Satire Franco has produced. And her three other foals of racing age have all qualified. Her progeny have now won forty six races between them.
The best of these is Costa Del Magnifico the winner of twelve races here and another three in Australia.
Other winners out of the mare are; When The Music’s Over (five New Zealand wins and six in Australia),
Turbine (three), Rowchester (three New Zealand wins and eight Australian) and I Smart (six).
It’s a family that Peter Van Der Looy had lots of success with, racing Vanderel (Holmes Hanover) which won fourteen races and Impish which won six.
It’s produced its fair share of quality colts including Smart Son, Grobbelaar, Sherlock, Kincaid, Idealindiamonds and King Of Swing.
The fillies have been good as well with the pedigree page including The Fascinator (10 wins), Opulent (18) and Twist and Twirl (7 wins).
In today's race, driver Matt Anderson settled John Coltrane back from the wide draw. He followed up favourite Zealand Star with 1200 metres to run. At the 800 metres he was sitting parked and with 600 metres to run Anderson put the pressure on leader Zealand Star. At the top of the straight he pinched a break and that proved to be the winning of the race as the only challenger Major McRae was clearing traffic back in the field. John Coltrane just held on to beat a fast finishing Major McRae by a nose.
John Coltrane (13) on the inside holding out Major McRae (6) by a nose – Photo Bruce Stewart.
John Coltrane, is named after an American jazz saxophonist and composer, and is owned by Calvin Claridge, Raywen Shirley, Brendon Hiini and Craig McKenzie. They've had success with other horses in the Shirley stable including 2012 Riverton Cup winner Chokullen and Tuapeka Troy.
"They're also luck enough to be in on a colt by Art Major out of the mare. I don't want to say too much about him because they'll just get big headed," joked John Coltrane's trainer Brent Shirley.
John Coltrane qualified impressively at Wyndham thirteen months ago and has had four workouts and two races prior to today's win.
"He's just taken a bit of time and is still six months away. He's basically like a pupil that's a year behind at school. A four year old but we have to treat him like a three year old. When he was two we turned him out and he didn't do very well. It took him a whole year to come right."
Shirley says the horse will be turned out for a short spell now and he'll look at racing him in the New Year.
Meanwhile, Some Excusesomewhere capped off a great weekend for Rakauhauka trainer Clark Barron. The upstanding gelding handled the wet conditions well and beat a brave Cast A Shadow by half a length. He was driven by the country's leading reinsman Blair Orange.
Some Excusesomewhere (11) winning for Blair Orange – Photo Bruce Stewart.
On Friday night at Alexandra Park a horse Barron part-bred, Bettor Joy, won the Group Two Peter Breckon Memorial Caduceus Club Ladyship Stakes
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing