DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS TRIES HARD IN JEWELS
Overport Lodge filly Delightful Memphis fought gallantly but was second best again to dominant 3YO pacing filly and her nemesis Spanish Armada in the $150,000 Mid Canterbury Trotting Owners Assn 3YO Diamond at Ashburton on Saturday, June 3.
Despite the best intentions of driver Blair Orange trying to hold up from the inside draw, Delightful Memphis, otherwise known round the stable as “Betty”, couldn’t muster the necessary acceleration close to the start point to hold out Northerner Juice Brogden, who crossed her easily from the two gate.
Ultra-consistent filly Delightful Memphis and driver, Blair Orange. (Race Images photo).
She ended up three back on the markers when favourite Spanish Armada rolled to the front with 1100m to run.
Delightful Memphis angled into the open with 200m to run and surged but front-running Spanish Armada also had a kick, racing away to win by 2 and 3/4 lengths in a strong 1:52.1 for the 1609m in the cool conditions.
This was the 14th time Delightful Memphis had raced Spanish Armada, and the 10th time she’s finished second to her All Stars rival.
Delightful Memphis has a win over her arch rival at Auckland last December, and has beaten her home three times, including a second in last year’s Harness Jewels 2YO Diamond at Cambridge, won by Partyon, with Spanish Armada third.
The ultra-consistent Delightful Memphis added another $22,500 to her bankroll for connections on Saturday, taking her earnings to $261,345.
She’s now raced 22 times for six wins, 14 seconds and a third.
Meanwhile, 2YO trot stablemate Castlereagh also raced generously on Jewels day, finishing stoutly for third to Paramount King and One Muscle Hill in the $100,000 Neumanns Tyres and The Tyre General Ruby 2YO Trot.
Castlereagh, from a second row alley, settled back on the outer but kept coming in the run home, being race-timed in 1:58.4.