Stable change helps Roxanne to victory
Gem broodmare Blantyre was credited with her eighth winner when Roxanne won at Ascot Park yesterday.
Blantyre belongs to a successful family and is a half-sister to former top pacer Trident (14 wins). Tisbury trainer Tom Kilkelly took over preparing Roxanne about four months ago.
He owns the Live Or Die filly with his wife Julie and Oporo trainer John Earl and his wife Juliet. Roxanne was trained for her first three starts by Earl before switching to Kilkelly’s stable.
“John thought she might go better in a bigger team,” Kilkelly said after the filly’s win in the Coco Bella Fillies and Mares’ Pace.
“We ride her a lot, hardly ever hopple her (in training).”
Seasonal problems had been troubling Roxanne up until recently.
Sweet P, raced by the Bush Boys Syndicate, won the Southern Veterinary Centre Pace. Her only other win from Wayne Adams’ stable was in a maiden contest at Ascot Park in December.
The Invercargill trainer arranged for the syndicate to lease Sweet P as a 3-year-old last season.
Members of the syndicate are Peter Shanks, of Owaka, his brothers Charles and Lex, of Invercargill, son Darryl and nephew Trevor, of Dunedin.
Wyndham gelding Press On made his rivals look second rate in the Voyant Pace
He cleared out by 9¾ lengths and ran the 2200m (mobile) in 2min 46sec. Owner-trainer Greg Hunter said Press On had been getting bad draws and having no luck in races since his second at Gore on December 27.
The Elsu gelding got checked in a race-fall at Wyndham on February 5.
Shop Til You Drop capped consistent form with success in the Mcknight and Brown Pace. It was Shop Til You Drop’s second start in three days following her third at Waikouaiti on Sunday for Rakauhauka trainer-driver Clark Barron. Four-year-old Shop Til You Drop is a sister to Retail Therapy (nine NZ wins), who was bought out of Barron’s stable in 2006 after gaining a win, four seconds and a seven starts.
Kilbirnie North View, scratched in the Mcknight and Brown Pace, has been sold to Australian interests.
Sea Spray Ronnie became a late scratching in The Edge Trot after being sore in the warm up. The Trot was won by Mosgiel gelding Lord Nelson, who finished fourth at Winton on Friday.
Bonnie Harvest closed yesterday’s meeting in spectacular fashion, powering to the front early and leading by a wide margin for the remainder of the 2200m race.
She won by 7¾ lengths in the hands of Graham Thomas.
The 9-year-old mare has been unsound since winning in 1min 55.7sec (one mile) at Winton two years ago. She damaged a suspensory ligament in that race.
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