Tapper’s new stable in first win
Trainer Bruce Tapper had his first win from his new stable at Winton when Jakob Gambino won fresh up at Wingatui on Saturday.
Tapper bought a 4.5 hectare block with a stable close to the Winton racecourse in June. He has Rebecca Hall caring for the horses based there.
‘‘It is a better set up for working the horses and I still have the option of working them on the farm at home [Otautau],’’ Tapper said.
Jakob Gambino, owned by Tapper with Kevin and Sherin Wood, of Hastings, is among 12 horses Tapper has in work. The others include Five Kings, The Knight and Natural Cash. Five Kings has won five races, the most recent at his last start at Riccarton in May. Jakob Gambino won at Wingatui on Melbourne Cup day last year.
Ablaze extended a family association with an impressive maiden win at Wingatui on Saturday. The 4-year-old Raise The Flag-Alight entire tracked the leader over 1200m and dashed away to win by two lengths.
Ablaze, an impressive type, finished second in his other start. He is raced by co-trainer Brian Anderton with Mickle Weastell, of Christchurch. They bred Ablaze, whose dam, Alight has left Star Son (by Seasoned Star), winner of four races in 2009 from seven starts when trained by Alex Cowan.
Star Son was then sold to Hong Kong but did not reproduce his form. Ablaze is the seventh foal of Alight, who was unplaced in seven starts. She is by Personal Escort from Bi Light, who won 11 races, including a listed race for 3-yearold fillies at Riverton in 1990 when trained by Anderton for Weastell’s mother, Mary Dalley. Bi Light also left Lights Up, winner of five races when trained by Weastell.
Bi Light was by Noble Bijou from Lamp Light, who won the Otaio Plate (2500m) at the 1979 New Zealand Cup meeting when trained by Anderton for Dalley. Lamp Light was bred by Dalley from a mating of Mellay and Rich Light, who won two races for Dalley’s father, Bill Hazlett. Rich Light was trained by Bill Hillis, whose daughter, Joanne, trained Wild Bill to win the featured Balclutha Cup on Saturday.