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DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS REPEATS AT BIG M

Former star Overport Lodge filly/mare Delightfulmemphisn repeated her win of seven nights earlier at the Meadowlands, New Jersey, on Saturday, January 12 (NZ time).

This time, the Bettor’s Delight-Memphis Melody mare overcame the outside 10 gate, settling fourth early, then powering home to win by three-quarters of a length, again in the hands of former NZ driver, Dexter Dunn.

Now trained in New Jersey by Richard “Nifty” Norman, Delightfulmemphisn equalled her time of the previous week (from the nine gate) of 1:51.4 (10ths).

The win came in the richest purse race of the night at the Meadowlands, a $17,500 fillies and mares pace.

Previously a winner of 11 from 36 starts in Australasia, this was her fourth USA win.

BLUE BLOOD NAIYA FRANCO WINS SECOND-UP

Richly-bred mare Naiya Franco was able to turn her form around second-up in the Morrisons Saddlery & Feed Mobile Pace at Oamaru on Tuesday, January 8.

The daughter of Mach Three and top mare Nearea Franco (1:54.4, 11 wins & $441,361) made the most of a suitable race for her rating, and a positive drive from Samantha Ottley from the eight gate.

Overport Lodge driver, Samantha Ottley.

Eased to second last, Sam had her on the move three wide from the 800m to be parked at the 600m.

They were left in front when front-running Chief Kapai compounded before the 400m and proved too classy, holding by 1 1/4 lengths in a 1:58.8 rate for the 2000m.

Naiya Franco is unbeaten in two starts at Oamaru, having won her maiden at the same track on June 17.

Put aside after four winter starts, which resulted in two seconds, she was at false odds on Tuesday, starting the seventh favourite in the 10-horse field.

Raced by Gold Coast owner, Mark Denyer, Naiya Franco is a half-sister to former top Australian mare Nike Franco (1:48.1, USA).

The connection to Nike Franco was the major drawcard for Mr Denyer to secure Naiya Franco at the NZ Premier Yearling Sales for $70,000, as he has many of his horses trained in Victoria by Dean Braun.

Nike Franco won 18 of 33 Australian starts for $392,000 for Victorian trainer Dean Braun, and has since racked up another 12 USA wins, taking her career earnings to $848,561.

Mr Denyer co-owns top Australian mare in Carlas Pixel, a daughter of Courage Under Fire, who has been trained for much of her career by Braun.

Carlas Pixel, who won last year’s Group One Ladyship Mile at Menangle in 1:49.5, beating NZ mares, Delishka, Rocker Band and A Piccadilly Princess, when briefly trained by Emma Stewart, has won 18 of 58 starts for $415,128.

Naiya Franco has the breeding to develop further.

Her grand-dam No Paba is an Abercrombie race-winning sister or half-sister to 12 individual winners including former champion racehorse Beach Towel (p3, 1:50), a former Meadowlands Pace and Breeders Crown winner, and US Horse Of The Year.

SOUTH QUARTET ALL WINNERS ON CIRCUIT

The Mark Jones stable concluded a successful south-Central Otago circuit when Si Si Senor held stablemate Rockahula Joe in the wet at Cromwell on January 6.

Si Si Senor completed a successful hour and a half for co-owners, Christchurch accountant Hamish Scott, and wife, Dr Kim Lawson, as the couple also won the day’s opener on the grass with hot favourite Team Kiwi, for the Robbie Holmes stable.

Blair Orange, teamed up with Si Si Senor to win at Cromwell.

Given every chance after leading early, then trailing, for Blair Orange, Si Si Senor unwound well to hold Rockahula Joe (handy outer) by three-quarters of a length.

Si Si Senor, a younger Courage Under Fire brother to smart winner Mongolian Storm (1:54.5, six wins & $102,684), had been the only one of the Overport Lodge south quartet without a win before Sunday, in their Christmas-New Year raicng.

However, he was close with a half-length second to Kotare Elite at his previous start at Winton on December 31.

This was his third win in 18 starts for the Si Si Senor ownership group, which also includes, Gavin and Sherryn Saunders, WDC 03 Ltd, Pete Smith, L Burney and Mark Calcott.

Si Si Senor is from a qualified but unraced Falcon Seelster mare in Zoe Maguire, a grand-daughter of former smart juvenile filly Windshield Star, who won twice from only three starts including a NZ Leonard Memorial.

He brought up the 14th win of the season for the Mark Jones stable, and the 67th of the season for leading driver, Blair Orange.

The stable’s only other starter on the wet grass at Cromwell was trotter Michelle, who was given every chance and fought solidly for third in the rating 48-59 trot, maintaining a consistent run of form in the south.

WHITTAKER WINS AT THE MEADOWLANDS

Former Overport Lodge pacer Whittaker notched his first USA win at the Meadowlands, New Jersey, on Sunday, January 5 (NZ time).

The Sportswriter-Anarchy entire, now racing for the Mitchell Mac Kenzie stable, settled fourth from the two date and finished best to win by half a length in 1:51.8 (10ths) for the mile.

Driven by Eric Carlson, Whittaker finished off with a closing 400m in 27.4s to take out the $11,550 pace.

Whittaker, named after former top Sydney-based sporting/racing writer, Bill Whittaker, was on-sold to North American interests last year.

He won 10 of 32 Australasian starts for $105,158 in stakes, including a Group Three race at Menangle, and taking a 1:52.9 mark there.

DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS WINS AGAIN AT THE BIG M

Classy former Overport Lodge mare Delightfulmemphisn returned to winning form at her first USA start of the year with a strong win at the Meadowlands, New Jersey, on Saturday (NZ time).

Delightful Memphis, driven by North American-based Kiwi, Dexter Dunn, for trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman, equalled her North American best of 1:51.4 (10ths) for the mile.

The Bettor’s Delight-Memphis Melody mare overcame the nine gate, settling sixth early, then improving to fourth turning for home.

She lifted to win by half a head in a $17,500 fillies and mares pace.

Delightful Memphis won $318,996 in her Australasian racing for the Mark Jones stable, from 11 wins in 36 starts.

She was sent to North America last year, with this being her third win since joining the Norman stable.

BARRETT CAUSES MINOR UPSET OVER ROXBURGH FAVOURITE

Barrett, who caused a minor upset downing hot favourite Kendra at Roxburgh on Friday, January 4, is on the
market back to his home country of Australia.

The improving son of champion sire Bettor’s Delight is Vicbred and Breeders Crown eligible.

He was initially purchased for NZ clients by trainer Mark Jones for owners Grant Hatton, Starmark Ltd and Stuart
Gillan, at an Australia Pacing Gold Yearling Sale.

“It was a good effort to come from where he did and beat a nice horse, so is definitely improving all the time,” Mark
said.

“He is on the market, being Aus-bred. I think he will be easy to sell but if not will just have freshen up and carry
on racing.”

Barrett, a good improver on the south Christmas-New Year circuit.

Barrett just topped six figures through the sale ring, while his brother was the equal top lot at this year’s APG Sydney sale, selling for $85,000.

He’s the first foal from the Group One-placed filly Priceless Gem (p3, 1:55.5, 10 wins & $80,861), an Art Major sister to the 2011 and 12 NSW Challenge winner and 2012 Australian Pacing Gold winner Louvre (p3, 1:54.5, 16 wins & $402,665), and capable filly, Miss Ami Sloy (1:56.2, seven wins & $44,960).

Priceless Gem is also a sister to top boy pacers in Renaissance Man (1:53.1, 18 wins & $297,904) and My General Lee (p4, 1:52.2, 20 wins & $257,187).

She’s a half-sister to other smart fillies in Miss Hazel (p3, 1:58.1, 1:57; 15 wins & $310,063), including a NSW Oaks and Australia Gold Final; and Dressed To Thrill (p3, 1:59.6, 10 wins & $64,085).

At stud, Miss Hazel is the dam of five individual winners, including Christian Sloy (p3, 1:53.8, 12 wins & $95,027), Miss Rocknroll (p3, 1:54.9, eight wins & $70,755), Hazels Girl (p2, 1:54.5, two wins), Roll With Me (1:57.5, seven wins) and Hazelnuts (2:00.4, two wins).

Miss Brazilian, an unraced Mach Three half-sister to Priceless Gem, has also bred on, with her first six foals all 1:58 or faster winners, including Handsome Major (p3, 1:55.5, 11 wins & $112,072), Mister Brazil (1:52.2, 12 wins & $155,340), Benicio (1:52.6, eight wins), Misterriodejaneiro (1:58, six wins), Brazilian Rocker (1:56.5, three wins) and Lets Go to Brazil (1:53.9, three wins).

My Ami Lee (p3, 2:00.1), the Safely Kept grand-dam of Barrett, won six and two and three including a NSW Oaks Prelude.

Barrett, now a winner of two from nine starts, finished a close-up fourth at his penultimate south start in the $10,800 Nugget Final at Winton, won by pacy filly Mossdale Art.

At Roxburgh, he was eased back from the five gate by top junior driver Sheree Tomlinson, being last beginning the bell lap.

He was on the surge wide over the final 600m, picking up the front-running Kendra in the shadows of the post with a well-timed finish, winning by half-a neck in a 1:59.5 rate for the 2180m trip.

Sheree was in top form, winning three of the last five races at Roxburgh, to advance to 24 wins for the season.