TWICE THE DELIGHT REWARDS SOUTHERN OWNERS
Aptly-named Twice The Delight passed her first step toward a potential Southland Oaks target in the autumn with a tidy front-running debut win at Gore on Saturday, October 11.
The daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Trelise (Holmes Hanover-Twice As Good) was sent out a dominating $1.60 favourite on the strength of an impressive recent Rangiora trial and was always in control.
Twice The Delight, from a big-winning family and a debut winner at Gore on Saturday.
Overport Lodge trainer-driver Mark Jones, who brought up his sixth training win for the term, dictated the front end from the three gate.
After having former stablemate Rockahula Arden for company over the last lap, was too good in the run home, winning by 1 1/4 lengths in a 2:00.4 rate (1700m).
Mark was entrusted with Twice The Delight after she failed to attract a bid at the 2013 NZ Premier Yearling Sale.
A cut to a leg a week from the sales distracted potential buyers.
Southland breeders, Wyndham-based Bruce and Caroline Robertson, and Bathan and Jane Muir, of Edendale, decided to leave her with Mark and restructured her ownership.
The Robertsons’ and the Muirs’, along with Bathan’s parents Ken and Jill, combined under the Matai Farms Limited banner.
Other shares were taken by Bill and Pauline Bain, of Roxburgh; and Peter and Caroline Clulee, of Mosgiel.
Twice The Delight, who continues to strengthen, has plenty going for her on breeding.
She is a sister to three-win squaregaiter Bet Online, but hails from a big “black type” winning pacing family.
Their four-win dam Trelise (1:58.7, 1700m) is a daughter of five-win Butler BG mare Twice As Good (1:56.5 m.r., 1700m).
Trelise is a half-sister to the smart pacers, St Barts (1:57 m.r., 1950m, 15 wins & over $150,000), Waitfornoone (1:55.7 m.r., 1700m, 11 wins & $201,805), Fight Fire With Fire (1:56.7, seven wins & $151,656), Twice As Hot (1:59.6 m.r, 2200m, five wins & $50,537) and Mark Dennis (1:54.2, 25 wins & $A177,567).
Two close relatives starred across the Tasman last weekend.
Mark Dennis won first-up since transferring to the New South Wales team of Shane Tritton in the $A30,000 Group Three ffa at Menangle, NSW, on Saturday night, in a 1:57.4 rate over 2300m.
Twice As Hot’s son Flaming Flutter (1:53.9, 15 wins & $A190,446) shone at Tabcorp Park, Melton, Victoria, on Friday night.
The son of Bettor’s Delight and Twice As Hot was just outside Carribean Blaster’s Melton 2240m stand start track mark when taking out the Group Two $A50,505 City Of Melton Plate in a fast 1:57.6 rate.
Twice The Delight’s third dam Princess Nandina (1:59.8) left top USA filly/mare Pacific (p2, 1:56.8 & p3, 1:53), the winner of 27 race for $871,550 including a Breeders Crown 3YO Fillies and Mistletoe Shalee Stakes Final.
RUMERATION FOR LAST-PLACED GUGGENHEIM
The connections of Gore maiden runnerup Rockahula Arden were ordered to pay remuneration equivalent to the third-placed stake of $475 to the connections of last-placed Guggenheim under the discretion of new judicial rules.
In a first-case scenario, it was established that Rockahula Arden (Dexter Dunn) had shifted out sharply when the removeable deafeners were released, despite the driver’s efforts to keep his horse straight, checking Guggenheim (Nathan Williamson, three wide).
Trailing horses, Canasta and Neat N Petite, were also inconvenienced.
The connections of Guggenheim sought a JCA ruling, which empowered the Judicial committee to order part, or all, of the stake monies payable if they were satisfied the interference denied the affected runner a chance to finish in a higher place.