SHESACHRISTIAN STAYS SOUTH
Shesachristian, who delivered in style at Forbury on Saturday, November 6, has joined the Graeme Anderson/Amber Hoffman stable for her future racing.
“She’s gone to McArdle and I think she’s in foal, so she’ll only have a few months left racing,” said Burnham trainer Mark Jones.
“I’ve left her with Graeme (Anderson) and she’ll race in his name down there in country cups and mares’ races.”
Shesachristian had remained in South Dunedin with the the Anderson/Hoffman team as caretaker trainers at Westwood Beach for the two-week period between her last two Forbury races.
“The change of scenery looks like it worked. She was pretty much on her last chance to show some improvement. She was well placed to win that race,” Mark said.
It had been a while between winning drinks for the well-performed Christian Cullen mare, who was recording her first win since beating Les Lisle, Ohoka Nevada and Biella Star, in the $25,000 Avon City Ford Canterbury Regional Country Cups Championship at Addington on March 20, 2009.
She was placed three times in a tough grade last term.
Shesachristian showed her old zest on Saturday, leading virtually throughout for Mark in the 3-6 wins Dunedin City Motors Discretionary Handicap over 2700m.
She was off and gone turning for home and won as she liked by three lengths over J D Fortune in 3:28.5 (2:04.2 mile rate), quickening over her last 800m in 57.2s and final 400m in 28.1s.
Shesachristian, purchased for $28,000 at the 2006 Australasian Classic Yearlng Sales by Trevor Casey, Shane Hausler, Johnny Phillips, Andy Doherty and Karen Doherty, lifted her career earnings to $123,309 from six wins and 19 placings.
She has strong broodmare value being a half-sister to 2003 NZ 2YO Championship runnerup Anothernightout (12 wins).
Their dam Achy Breaky Heart is a former NZ mares’ record holder (1:58.5 mile rate, 2200m), who won six and $54,461 in stakes.
Her third dam Tata Matapo, was an unraced half-sister by Tudor Hanover to outstanding racemare and 1990 NZ Broodmare of the Year Black Watch (14 wins including the 1968 NZ Juvenile Championship, 3rd 1973 Auckland Cup).
Tata Matapo left five winners herself including the former top Bob and Vin Knight-prepared 1980s pacer Smooth Falcon (1:57.5, Aust).
Shesachristian was a Sires’ Stakes Fillies Heat winner at two.
She was also beaten a nose by Natal Franco in the Group Three Nevele R Stakes as a juvenile and has best placed mile mark of 1:56.5, set when third at Ashburton in February this ear.
Courage Talks went close to a winning double for the Jones team at Forbury, overcoming a back row marble on debut for a half-length second to Peruvian Banner in the Washington VC Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace.
The Courage Under Fire filly improved three wide with a lap to run and levelled up to front-running Peruvian Banner turning for home for Regan Todd.
After putting her head in front turning for home Peruvian Banner kicked back to take the win in a 2:00 mile rate for the 1700m, the leaders running their last 800m in 58.7s and final 400m in 28.3s.
Honey Delight, another 3YO filly scheduled to debut at Forbury, had to be withdrawn after not appearing 100 percent in her work late last week.
By Jeff Scott