Pat’s Delight gave Gore owners Pat and Margaret Kubala a change of fortunes with an easy win at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
The Kubalas, operating as Charlton Park Enterprises Ltd, lost Rapid Flight, a 3-year-old sister to Pat’s Delight a week earlier. Rapid Flight, who had been placed in four of her five starts, died from ryegrass staggers when due to resume work.
The 2-year-old colt Pat’s Delight (Bettor’s Delight – Righteous Franco) is believed to have been affected by the same problem 12 months ago and he was on intravenous treatment for three days.
Pat’s Delight, who finished third in his other start, led throughout 2200m and won by three and a half lengths.
Righteous Franco has also left Rapid Mach (three wins) and Lightning Mach, both by Mach Three. Lightning Mach won 10 races for the Kubalas when trained by Cran Dalgety. He is also the trainer of Pat’s Delight.
Lightning Mach was sold to the United States in July, 2016. She subsequently won her first three races and took a record of 1.51.2.
Pat Kubala, who has a seed business, said anyone grazing horses should be aware of ryegrass varieties that have a low level of endophyte. That is a naturally occurring fungi in ryegrass when ingested affects the nervous system of animals, causing “staggers”.
Dunedin owner Russell Nieper also had a change of fortunes when he won with The Persuader, trained by Eion Latimer.
His two win pacer Until Further Notice, trained by Latimer, has been diagnosed with a second fractured pastern. He was sidelined in December, 2015 with a fracture in his other hind leg.
Gerard Cayford, the owner of Ygritte, said he would exercise a right of purchase on the 5-year-old trotting mare after her win, her third this year. He has the sister to dual Harness Jewels winner King Denny and half sister to Sarah Lindenny on lease from Trevor Casey.
Ygritte won a race for Colin and Julie De Filippi before joining the stable of Amber Hoffman. The daughter of Majestic Son – A Touch of Sun had another 26 starts over 23 months before she regaining the winning list at Waikouaiti in February. Heard The Whisper, the six – win trotter owned by Cayford and trained by Hoffman, has fractured a cannon bone. He will require boxing for the next six weeks.
Zsa Ziva has thrived during a stint with Makarewa trainer Craig Ferguson. She capped four minor placings with a six and a quarter length win in the hands of Sheree Tomlinson, whose mother Amanda Tomlinson and Grandfather Ken Ford race. She a half-sister to Zachary Binx (seven wins).
“We have been doing little work with her (Zsa Ziva) between races,” said Sheree.
Martin Denton did not get the win he wanted when he drove Och Aye The Noo on his 65th birthday, but he trained the winner Bourbon And Dry. He also had a great party at Forbury Park with a host of friends.
Tayler Strong