Debbie Larkins gained her first win as an owner/trainer/driver when Rydgemont Milly downed visiting favourite Trouble Giero to win the Zilco/Carpet Plus Willy's Flooring Trot at Gore on Sunday.
Larkins races the mare on lease and shares the training with her partner Mark Shirley. They'd previously had success with Strategic Miss (twice) and Another Windermere. Conrock, in April 2013 when trained by Shirley alone, provided Larkins with her first driving success.
Rydgemont Milly is the first foal of the Sundon mare Domination, winner of 10 races when trained by Murray Tapper. It was Tapper who recommended Rydgemont Milly to Larkins and Shirley.
“Murray broke her in, he said she would take time,” Shirley said, “she has high speed and that will carry her when she strengthens. She is a solid trotter.”
The Gore win made up for the Monarchy mare's bad luck at the Northern Southland meeting where she enjoyed a good trip in the one-one on the back of favourite Sky Tower, until the 400. At that point the eventual winner Explosive Star arrived on Rydgemont Milly's outer to lock her in and then Sky Tower broke and carted her out the back.
Dan Wilson gained his first win as a breeder/owner/trainer when Lucas capitalised on a perfect Brad Williamson drive in the Dwain's Service Centre/MLT Forest Lodge Tapanui Pace. From four off the gate, Lucas enjoyed the one-one until the 600. From there, he was pushed forward, took control before the turn and ran clear in the straight.
“He's always had speed, he just needed the right run,” said Wilson whose only previous wins were as the owner-trainer of Hadrian, twice successful early in 2014.
Wilson said he grew up with horses, his parents raced horses, his father Lindsay and Uncle Ian train and his sister is the partner of trainer Tony Stratford. Lucas is the only horse he has in work. The gelding is out of Village Kiwi, a mare Wilson acquired from her previous trainer the late Alan Scobie. Prior to breeding form her, Wilson raced Village Kiwi for a time from his father's stable and gained a third at Ascot Park.
Earlier in the day Williamson had won the SBS Claimers Mobile on The Charging Moa and was the only driver to land two winners on Sunday. The Charging Moa, by 2008 New Zealand Cup winner Changeover from the 2008 New Zealand Cup fourth placegetter Specials Ops, had a claiming price of $10,000 and wasn't claimed. In fact, no claims were lodged for any of the runners.
Ariadne Lavra, the only representative at Gore of Burnham trainer Mark Jones, did the business impressively in the Otamita Servicing Ltd stand-start pace. She was racing in Southland for just the second time, having contested the group three Caduceus Club Two Year Old Fillies Classic at Ascot Park in March. Brent Barclay was aboard that day when she finished third behind stablemate Delightful Memphis and the Purdon/Rasmussen rep Renske B.
Barclay took the reins again on Sunday and had the daughter of Art Major in front after 350 metres. They were never seriously tested from then on and careered away in the straight to win by four and three quarter lengths.
Other Canterbury trainers to taste success were Steve McRae from West Melton and Brent White of Temuka. McRae had three at the meeting and won the Colin Baynes Memorial Fillies and Mares Pace with Narelle Franco. She is the first foal of National Franco who a few years earlier won races at Ascot Park with Craig Thornley in the sulky. He was also the winning driver of Narelle Franco who is now four and was having just her second start, after finishing third on debut at Washdyke last week.
“She was a bit weak last season but has strengthened up,” Thornley said.
The stable also picked up a placing in the Gore Windscreens N Glass Mobile with Franco Tristan. The four year old looked the winner when he loomed up on the turn but had to settle for third.
“He hit the front and pulled up,” commented Thornley.
Victory went to Ultimate Fella, White's sixth starter on the day. Earlier, he'd gained a placings with Trouble Giero who finished runner-up to Rydgemont Milly, plus Dark Ops and Run To Hide who both finished third.
The third of Dark Ops was behind Blazing Under Fire in the Jaccka Lodge Handicap. Blazing Under Fire, a C2 entire trained by Phil Williamson, was driven by junior Rory McIlwrick and recorded the day's biggest winning margin of six and a quarter lengths. The win was penalty free under the conditions of the race because Blazing Under Fire was driven by a junior.
The win helped McIlwrick retain a margin of four wins over Sheree Tomlinson at the top of the national premiership.
Mac Henry