Brosnans continue good start to season
The new season has begun well for husband-and-wife training partners Peter and Jess Brosnan, whose double at Te Aroha on Sunday took their tally after a month to three wins from 18 starters.
Earlier in August Embraceable You had got things off to an encouraging start with a win at Avondale and she repeated on the weekend with another brave effort to get up late in the distinctive orange colours of ownerbreeder George Duncan.
That win book-ended the Te Aroha card for the Brosnans, who had won the first race with a horse they race themselves, That’s How It Goes. The Istidaad gelding had been Peter and Jess’s only winner last season when he capped a ruin of placings with a maiden middle-distance success.
On Sunday he was having his second start over hurdles and the way he managed the assignment augurs well for his future in a role that has brought immense success to the Brosnan family over the years.
That’s How It Goes isn’t the only promising jumper Brosnan team.
A definite future is also predicted for Old Countess, who finished third to his stablemate on Sunday.
‘‘It’s good to get the win with our own horse but I think that once Old Countess learns to settle in her races she’ll be even better,’’ says Peter.
Matamata horses had to settle for minor placings on the first day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival, but our jockeys had a better time of it.
Michael Coleman has nailed a good ride for the spring in Ugo Foscolo, who led throughout to beat Te Akau colt Hall Of Fame in the three-year-old sprint. Anna Jones got her first win for the season on another all-the-way winner, Meeska Mooska, while Cameron Lammas partnered El Pescado for second to Savabeel gelding Kawi in the day’s feature, the Gr. 1 Makfi Challenge Stakes.
Anna’s win on Meeska Mooska actually completed a double after she had won a novelty race staged as part of Daffodil Day fundraising efforts for the Cancer Society.
No horses were involved, just in the jockeys dressed in a variety of costumes who volunteered to take part in an egg-and-spoon race in the birdcage.
Anna’s combination of previously unrevealed skills carried the day, while Samantha Collett admitted she couldn’t quite get her co-ordination right when it came to jumping a hurdle at the same time as keeping her eggholding hand steady.