Waipa stables rack up six wins at TA
Isdale trained Colorado Bay impressive winner of Race Images 1150
Cambridge and Te Awamutu stables had a field day weighing in for six wins, four seconds and seven thirds at Waipa¯ Racing Club’s September meeting.
The day’s highlight was the Te Awamutu trifecta in the Kenton Wright Race Images 1150, won by Colorado Bay, trained by Clinton Isdale and owned by Gloria Graydon and Elizabeth Pollard.
As a yearling Colorado Bay sustained a paddock injury and was withdrawn from the 2015 Karaka Yearling Sales. As a three-year-old the gelding had three starts.
“He always showed he had ability but was mentally immature,” Pollard said. “He would tend to over-race and do things wrong. I decided because of his good looks, size and markings he would make an ideal dessage horse.
“He was given away to a vet nurse but she failed to collect him. Clinton Isdale expressed an interest in the horse and now having recorded three wins, the rest is history.”
Pollard said the key to Colorado Bay has been alternative training. He rarely sees a training track, only on race day.
“Clinton Isdale and Jemma Hewitson have done an amazing job. Clinton is currently New Zealand’s leading amateur jockey.”
The racing partnership of Graydon and Pollard has been very successful, racing five horses for a total of 26 wins — Rosetti Bay eight wins, Queens Rose eight wins, Pacific Rose five wins, Diamond Rose two wins and Colorado Bay three wins.
“Colorado Bay has always been a work in progress but now the penny has finally dropped he’s got his act together, although he’s still a big baby.”
Jockey Samantha Collett had the 5-year-old gelding Colorado Bay second on the turn, took over the lead with 600m to run and bolted away to win by 5.5 lengths from Aligns With Me, trained by Brendon Hawtin, with the Stephen Ralph trained Marissa placing third to complete the Te Awamutu 1, 2, 3.
It was the second occasion in as many starts on a heavy 11 track at Waipa¯ that Colorado Bay has blitzed the field over the same distance, having won by eight lengths and paying $18.40 for the win on June 17.
Ralph and Isdale also saddled up Razor and Le Patron to place second and third respectively in race two, the Waipa¯ Home of Champions 1150.
Hawtin had further success with Indian Maid placing second in race five, the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race.
A third placing by the Ben Ropiha trained Sienna Grace in race eight, the Vilagrad 2000, capped Te Awamutu’s day in the sun.
Cambridge stables fared even better, recording five wins. John Bell, formerly of Kihikihi, rode Yorkshire Dales to win race four, the Gibson Construction 1580, and Silk won race nine, the Merchant Liquor 2000.
Taree, trained by Tarissa Mitchell, took out race one, the Chipperfield Round Equine Education 1150; the Tony Pike trained Sacred Delight was first past the post in race six, the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race, and the Craig Phelan trained Bay Rocker won the Vilagrad 2000.
Pike had further success with Redcayenne placing second in race three, the Quinlan Electrical 1580. Cambridge horses to place third were the David Wilson-trained Sellwood, Rachael Kramer-trained Princess Raaj, Stephen Marshtrained Goldilicious, and Ralph Manning-trained Here To Stay.