PERISSA WELL-PLACED IN PRODIGAL SEELSTER SPEED SERIES
Perissa, a tenacious nose winner of the $9000 heat Prodigal Seelster Summer of Speed Series Heat at Methven in 1:59.7 (1609m) on Sunday, December 6, is well placed to advance further through the series.
She clocked a 1:59.7 grass mile in the opening leg of the series.
The Canterbury Standardbred Breeders Assocation series is made to order for Perissa, who has a fastest winning mile rate of 1:56.4 (2000m) at Rangiora 12 months ago, and ran the fastest final 800m race section recorded at Addington of 54.3s on October 16.
Perissa (Robbie Close), in action holding Motu Lightning Lass in the the Prodigal Seelster Mares Speed Series at Methven (Race Images photo).
The speed series has a stakes-won cap of $65,000, with Perissa fitting in nicely, having earned just over $43,500 going into the first round.
Perissa will have other good opportunities in further heats at Addington on December 19, and Ashburton on January 16, and the $16,000 final at Ashburton on February 7.
The 6YO Art Major-Riwaka Star mare has continued to blossom since teaming up with the Woodend Beach arm of the Mark Jones stable in November 2014, for owners, Steve and Maureen O’Brien.
She joined the stable with one win from 27 starts.
Her lastest win was her fifth from 24 starts for the Jones team, advancing her stakes to $48,046.
Robbie Close, last season’s Australasian and NZ Junior Drivers Champion, gets on well with the mare.
After a first-up fifth in his first race steer behind the mare, Robbie’s now won twice with her, while he’s also picked up a second and two thirds from six racedrives behind Perissa.
Trapped wide from the seven gate early, Robbie sent her to the top after the opening quarter.
Main danger Motu Lightning Lass had the sweet sit on her back for Sam Ottley, but Perissa wouldn’t be denied.
She kept kicking to the line, holding by a nose over her last 800m in 57.8s and final 400m in 28.1s.
This was the ninth win from 117 drives for Robbie, in his first season as an open horseman.
Meanwhile, the Mark Jones stable is currently third-equal on this season’s trainers premiership with 17 wins, sharing the position with Tony Herlihy, and Greg and Nina Hope.
The Allstars Stables of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen are again in a race of their own as premiership leaders with 42 wins.
The Robert Dunn stable leads the chase with 24 wins.