Canterbury pair boost Jewels chances
CANTERBURY 2yrold fillies Miss Ruby Sunshine and Maharani boosted their chances of making next month’s Harness Jewels by winning at Forbury Park last night.
The Mark Jonestrained Miss Ruby Sunshine scored courtesy of an icecold drive from Sheree Tomlinson.
The 3yrold was snookered before the home turn, but produced a powerful finish when clear to win race 3.
Miss Ruby Sunshine’s winning stake took her to seventh placing on the 2yrold fillies’ leaderboard for the Harness Jewels.
Should she make the final field of 12 by next week’s cutoff, the filly would realise a long held goal for her Brisbane owners, Ross and Dot Patrick.
‘‘Ross and Dot Patrick have bought a lot of horses off me, including this filly’s brother, Macgregor.
‘‘They just wanted a runner in the Jewels, so that is why she was at Forbury.’’
Miss Ruby Sunshine notched the first win in New Zealand for her sire, Sunshine Beach, with her victory.
Maharani also boosted her chances of making the Harness Jewels by winning race 4.
Trainer Mitchell Kerr said last night’s win had two key benefits.
The victory took Maharani to eighth on the Harness Jewels leader board but, more importantly, provided her with a crucial hitout before a big race assignment.
‘‘She needed this race tonight because she has the Sales Series Final at Addington next week,’’ Kerr said.
‘‘She is a really tough filly and very laidback.’’
The Forbury Park Trotting Club will play a minor role in the preparation for the Harness Jewels.
The Dunedin club’s track was recently relaid with a sandbased material that is being considered for use at Addington.
If its passes muster at Forbury Park, the product will be used at Addington before the Harness Jewels.
The newly laid surface received positive reviews from drivers last night.
Waikouaiti trainer Amber Hoffman produced a perfect result when Kotare Elite beat Omar Sharif last night.
Hoffman looked set to score the quinella in the last 50m of race 6, but she had to watch her pair fight out a thrilling finish to find out in which order they had finished.
A welltimed Brent Barclay drive resulted in Kotare Elite being confirmed the winner over Omar Sharif, who fought resolutely in the home straight for Blair Orange.
Hoffman said the quinella was particular pleasing because both horses had suffered setbacks this season.
‘‘It was awesome. I am thrilled for both of the horses.
‘‘Omar Sharif had a muscle problem and it was great to see him back in form.
‘‘Kotare Elite is such a nice mare.
‘‘She had some problems during summer with allergies, so she deserved that win.’’
Barclay’s brilliant steer to find an economical run for Kotare Elite from barrier 8 produced one of four wins for the Southland reinsman last night.
He scored a double with trainer Brett Gray when he won with Better than spraying in race 1 and Robbie Royale in race 9.
Barclay also won with Look Both Ways in race 2 for trainer Len Moseley.