STYLISH MEMPHIS 7th WINNER FOR DAM
Delightfulmemphisn, at the Meadowlands in the USA , couldn’t match the NZ win of younger sister Stylish Memphis at Winton less than 24 hours earlier, but it was a good weekend for Christchurch breeder, Wayne Higgs.
Stylish Memphis, raced by Mr Higgs from the Overport Lodge stable of Mark Jones, was a 2YO winner, second-up, in 1:58.7, adding to the growing record of her dam, Memphis Melody.
Former flagship Mark Jones-prepared mare Delightful Memphis was however race-timed in 1:50.4 with her third in a $US30,000 mares pace for the Nifty Norman stable.
Late last month, another by Bettor’s Delight from Memphis Melody (Badlands Hanover-OK Deb) in Memphis Tennesee, bred by Mr Higgs and sold out of the Jones stable to the Terry and Glenys Chmiel, was rewarded in Group Two 3YO company in the Southern Supremacy Final.
Memphis Tennessee, a brother to Delightful Memphis and Stylish Memphis, winning at Invercargill on October 6 for co-trainer Terry Chmiel. (Photo: Wild Range Photography).
Memphis Tennessee (1:58.9), now a winner of five from 15 starts for $84,625, is the third most successful from Memphis Melody (2:00.1, a winner herself from only seven starts).
Delightful Memphis (1:51.4) leads the way, having won over $330,000 in NZ, Australia and now North America.
She’s won five of her 13 USA starts this year, adding just over $US110,000 to her career total.
Harley Earl (1:55.8), the first foal from Memphis Melody, was another smart performer, initially for the Brendon Hill stable, winning 10 of 31 starts for $148,165.
Virginia Lightning (1:57.1), by Christian Cullen, was another good Australian winner for Memphis Melody, winning 13 races and $A76,375.
Memphis Melody, from the same maternal family as champion youngster Courage Under Fire (1:54.1), is now the dam of seven individual winners of 46 races.
Her latest winner, favourite Stylish Memphis worked to the front after the opening quarter of her mile dash at Winton, holding trailer and second favourite, Might Be Me, by half a head over the leaders last 400m in a slick 26.1s.
She joins Lulu Le Mans and Miss Ruby Sunshine as Mark Jones-trained contenders for the $150,000 Harness Jewels 2YO Diamond at Addington on June 1.