Cooksley and Hale’s Easter
LIFE hasn’t been easy for popular Cambridge trainer Shelley Hale in recent years.
Ill-health 18 months or so ago laid her low but her resolute nature and an endearing love of horses gave her the motivation to beat the odds and get back to work.
Hale put those hard times to rest at Ellerslie on Saturday when her pride and joy Seventh Up charged to victory ridden by the country’s elder statesman of jockeys Grant Cooksley, 57.
Hale celebrated as the cobreeder, part-owner and trainer of the son of Shinko King’s Group II Manco Easter Stakes (1600m) win.
‘‘Wow, I just wish it was still a Group I as I think he is a Group I horse,’’ Hale said.
‘‘I’m thrilled to bits and thanks to everyone who has helped me through thick and thin - I’m quite overcome by it all.
‘‘He’s a neat horse and it’s just lovely to see him get such a good win.’’
Seventh Up is a son of the Exploding Prospect mare Regelle, who won four races herself but it is as a broodmare that she has made a mark.
Seven of her eight foals to race have won and they include Seventh Up’s brothers Thumbs Up, a Group II winner and Group I placegetter in Hong Kong, and Sum Up, a multiple winner and a Group performer.
‘‘She’s been a gem of a mare for us,’’ Hale said.
The latest family star Seventh Up settled off the pace and when the field fanned out in the straight he hit top gear for Cooksley and, appropriately, powered to the seventh win of his 16-start career.
‘‘He won comfortably [last weekend at Tauranga], Cookie looked after him and it took nothing out of him and he bounced through the week so I knew he was ready,’’ Hale said.
The trainer shares ownership with the Noel and Alison Johnstone Family Trust and Robin Stent.
‘‘They have been such wonderful owners and it’s a real thrill to win this race for them,’’ she said.
Seventh Up makes up one third of Hale’s racing squad.
His half-brothers Close Up and the maiden Next Up are in full work and getting near to resuming aiming to add to the family record.
‘‘We’ve had a great run with the family and it’s a pleasure to train such willing horses.’’
The talented Hiflyer ran second ahead of the previously Trish Dunell
‘ I’m thrilled to bits and thanks to everyone who has helped me through thick and thin. I’m quite overcome by it all.’ TRAINER:SHELLEY HALE
unbeaten Let Me Roar with veteran Scapolo fourth in front of last year’s winner Sound Proposition.
Veteran hoop Cooksley, won the first of his four Easters aboard Clear Gold 34 years ago.
His other wins came with Status in 1990 and Sedecrem in 2003, in a career that has yielded more than 1000 wins in New Zealand and countless abroad.
Pedigree and trials form was expected to be to the fore in Saturday’s second race, the Ellerslie’s Mid-Winter Christmas Celebration 2YO.
Full-brother of Group I winner Diademe, Embellish was the $1.40 favourite but was upstaged by fellow first-starter Not Usual Trip, by Rangipo’s sire Stryker, who beat him home by three and a-quarter lengths.
Matthew Cameron rode a confident race on the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs-trained galloper and the favourite had every chance to run him down but couldn’t do it.
‘‘We’ve been patient with him,’’ Logan said.