FILLIES WIN RANGIORA QUALIFYING TRIALS
Glenferrie Diva, a half-sister to fast 1:49.2 North American miler Foreclosure N, was a smart mobile 2000m qualifier at the Rangiora trials on Monday, December 12, for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones and driver Regan Todd.
The Peter Chambers-owned daughter of Christian Cullen and Pleasing Package moved up from the third line to challenge at the 500m and ran clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths.
She paced the mobile 2000m in 2:33.2 (2:03.2 mile rate), the leaders running their last 800m in 57.1s, with Glenferrie Diva finishing off with a swift final 400m in 27.5s.
Her half-brother Foreclosure N, a son of Rocknroll Hanover, was good enough to qualify for this year’s Meadowlands Pace.
Foreclosure, who has won twice and run three placings from 12 starts this year for $US269,973, has lowered his career mile best to 1:49.2 on a five-furlongs (1000m track) for trainer Mark Steacy.
He ran second in a Meadowlands Pace elimination, but was unplaced from the outside gate in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace Final in July.
Last year Foreclosure won $US234,590, scoring wins in the New Jersey Sires Stakes Final and a Breeders Crown elimination.
Foreclosure is the first foal from 1:50.4 North American miler Pleasing Package (Fake Left-Pleading).
Pleasing Package retired after taking her career record to 38 wins and $US359,380 in North America.
Earlier she was a smart 3YO filly in Australia when raced by Tony Price from the Queensland stable of Graeme Bowyer.
She won a Gold Coast Oaks and was the runnerup when Mark Jones reined the Cran Dalgety-trained Sparks A Flyin to win the 2001 New South Wales Oaks.
She was also the runnerup to Cherry Cheer in a 3YO Fillies Qbred Triad Final at Albion Park.
Her grand-dam Pleading is a NZ-bred daughter of McKinzie Almahurst and Pleadover.
Pleasing Package was initially returned to NZ to begin her breeding career by Platinum Breeding.
Mr Chambers purchased Pleasing Package in May for his Glenferrie Farm operation. She has subsequenty been exported to Australia.
CHAMPAGNE FRANCO WINS HEAT
Champagne Franco will head straight to her race debut at Rangiora on Sunday, December 18, after also winning her Rangiora qualifier on Monday, December 12.
The Falcon Seelster-Crusader Franco filly, co-owned by racecaller Mark McNamara, and wife Katy, led from the outset in Monday’s trial.
She held comfortably by 1 1/2 lengths to return 3:26.1 for the stand start 2600m (2:07.5 mile rate), quickening over her last 800m in 57.5s and final 400m in 29.1s.
Champagne Franco is the first foal from Crusader Franco (TT, 1:58.6, four wins), while Crusader Franco’s grand-dam dam Cherubic, won six including the Northern Oaks for West Melton trainer Ian Shinn.
Cherubic (Tuapeka Knight-Chin Chin Cherie) has been a successful broodmare leaving seven sub 2:00 winners including fast North American winner Franco Catapult (1:49.4 & over $US613,974), Franco Conquest (1:53.4, US) and Franco Croupier (1:54.8, US).
Fellow Overport Lodge pacer Carpet Bagger (3g Pacific Rocket-Nuclear Reactor) had to settle for second in his 2000m stand qualifying pace.
Affer leading up, he was outfinished in the run home by the Andrew Stuart-trained Sailing On (3g Riverboat King- Cee Ya Later), who went on to score by 3 1/2 lengths in 2:36.9 for the 2000m.
Carpet Bagger paced 2:37.6 for second to gain his ticket.
Stablemate Fifi La Finn (3f Heartland Hanover-Our Hoochie Mama) also gained her qualifying ticket, running fifth of six, clocking in at 2:38.6, 0.6 inside the required time, for the 2000m.