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NEW DATE FOR NSW TROTTERS DERBY

The $40,000 NSW Trotters Derby will now be run on July 16, 2016, following discussions with other states regarding their programs.

The Group Two feature was originally scheduled for Tabcorp Park Menangle this weekend, but was postponed following a poor response from trainers.

The NSW Harness Racing Club discussed likely dates for the race with Harness Racing Victoria’s racing team before settling on the July 16 (Saturday night) date.

“We thought that date should suit most trainers,” explained NSWHRC racing manager David Wonson.

“That date is two weeks after the VicBred finals at Melton, three weeks after the NSW Breeders Challenge Final and three weeks before the Victoria Trotters Derby at Maryborough.

“This way there should be no excuses for any horses in regards to a quick back-up between races or not being able to travel to contest our Derby.”

Wonson said he appreciated the support shown by Harness Racing Victoria as both states sought to come up with dates which would suit both parties.

The NSW Trotters Derby will now be run the same night as the rich Breeders Challenge Blue finals at Tabcorp Park Menangle, ensuring the club will boast a bumper program that night.

Courtesy of Amanda Zammitt, NSWHRC

ANIKA LINDENNY SMART FRESH-UP ADDINGTON WINNER

Last week’s holidaying Canterbury racecaller Mark McNamara, who returned to Christchurch on Monday,  always had a bit of time for the big Christian Cullen maiden mare Anika Lindenny.

So much so he and wife Katie leased her from Lindenny Lodge breeders, Dennis Bennett and Linda Joyce, of Fernside, North Canterbury, in January.

Anika Lindenny, the latest winner for the Mark Jones stable, at Addington on Sunday, May 8.

Anika Lindenny had put in some eye-catching maiden runs, but her best efforts in 13 attempts when prepared by co-owner, Dennis Bennett, were three fourths.

Mark and Katie could see a win or two in her, and transferred her to the bigger Burnham stables of Mark Jones.

At her second run for the McNamaras’ from the Overport Lodge stable, she ran second to Julia Lady on the grass at Rangiora, then was freshened two subsequent midfield runs in February.

Anika Lindenny resumed without a trial in a C0-1 2000m stand start pace at Addington on Sunday, May 8, flew the tapes, trailed Jewelz at the 1400m and had the last say.

She was always travelling well for Ricky May and once she found clear air at the 150m, came clear of two C1 15m-line pacers in Going Going Gone and Best Defence.

She paced the 2000m in a smart 2:30.7 (2:01.2 mile rate), the leaders running their last 800m in 58.3s and final 400m in 28.6s.

The manner of the win suggests she can advance further and is likely to get her chance at C1 level at Timaru on Sunday.

Anika Lindenny has a bit of breeding on her side being from a two-win Falcon Seelster mare in Wings To Fly, a half-sister to former smart pacer Hippity Hop (10 NZ wins, 1:53.2, US).

Wings To Fly beat Smooth Crusa in an Addington maiden for Dennis and Linda from the stable of Tom Twidle, then won her second in the north for Cambridge trainer Nicky Chilcott.

Her first foal Aceman (1:59.9) won five, while Anika Lindenny is her second to race.

Anika Lindenny’s grand-dam Silk And Satin (TT, 1:59.5) won five in NZ and racked up placings in features such as a North Island Breeders Stakes, Great Northern Oaks, Ladyship Stakes and an International Classic 2YO Northern Hemisphere Time Final.

Silk And Satin also won another two in Australia and ran third in an El Dorado 3YO Fillies Final.

Besides leaving Hippity Hop and Wings To Fly, she’s the dam of six other individual winners including Galactic Council (1:52, US), the winner of 12 in NSW and a further 17 in the USA for $A224,444, and Saint Butler (1:59.4, six Aust. wins).

Another from Silk And Satin in Silky Atom is the dam of Crystal Journey (2:00.2, 11 wins & $A113,185) and Revamy (2:00.5, 10 wins & $A58,848).

By Jeff Scott

DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS NECK SECOND IN SIRES FILLIES RACE

Overport Lodge filly Delightful Memphis, given a great trip in the one-one by Blair Orange, fought hard neck for a neck second in the in the Group One $138,000 Magness Benrow Sires Stakes Fillies Championship at Auckland on April 29.

However, front-running $1.30 favourite Spanish Armada wouldn’t be denied in the run home for co-trainer Natalie Rasmussen, doing enough to hold for back-to-back Group One victories at Alexandra Park.

Renske B, a stablemate of Spanish Armada, held third 3 3/4 lengths away after moving up parked with Delightful Memphis tracking up in the one-one sit.

Spanish Armada, in contrast to her front-running win, had exploded home from four lengths off the pace to win the previous week’s $113,406 Woodlands Stud Caduceus Club 2YO Fillies Classic by 5 1/2 lengths.

The All Stars filly, who won in 2:41.9 2200m in the Caduceus, backed up with another slick run in the Sires Stakes Fillies Championship over 1700m, clocking 2:02.3, a 1:55.7 mile rate.

The pace was again slick over the final 800m in the Sires Stakes Fillies race, the winner going 56.4s and finishing off over her final 400m in 27.7s.

Spanish Armada, a daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Galleons Supreme (Christian Cullen-Galleons Cheer), has only been beaten once in five starts, all at Auckland.

The filly, offered by Woodlands Stud, was a $75,000 Australasian Classic Yearling Sales buy last year for All Stars Melbourne owner Jean Feiss.

Spanish Armada, a sister to Better Be Supreme (1:56.7 Aust, third in both the 2014 NZ Sires Stakes 2YO Fillies Final & NZ Yearling Sales 2YO Fillies Pace), is from a qualified but unraced sister to former top filly in Cheer The Lady (1:55.1 mile rate, 2240m, 11 wins & $314,658), the 2012 New Zealand Oaks and Australasian Breeders Crown 3YO Fillies Final winner.

She’s also from the family of another former smart filly in Nevermore (p3, 1:56.1, seven wins), the 1993 NZ 2YO Pacing Filly Of The Year.

Spanish Armada’s fourth dam No Regrets was a half-sister to 1972 New Zealand Cup winner Globe Bay.

No Regrets left six individual winners including a former Victoria Derby runnerup in No Equal (1:57.5 mile rate, 1940, 31 wins).

Another from No Regets in New Review, is the lightly-raced two-win grand-dam of Sires Stakes 3YO & Harness Jewels 4YO winner Franco Nelson (1:53.1, 14 wins & $602,512), the runnerup to Adore Me in the 2014 New Zealand Cup.

In a favourites night at Alexandra Park, Field Marshal, completed the Group One 4YO double for the Tim Butt stable, adding the NZ Messenger to his Taylor Mile win a week earlier.

Field Marshal (4h Art Major-Foreal), given a good run three and two back on the outer by Dexter Dunn, sprinted clear from My Kiwi Mate, with pacemaking Hug The Wind third, in a strong 1:56.6 rate (2700m).

Monbet, who opened a $1.14 favourite to win the Canam Rowe Cup, lengthened to $1.20 at tote close and gave his supporters no cause for concern.

Back early, he took command two laps out for Ricky May and sprinted clear to win as he liked by 3 1/2 lengths in a comfortable 4:06.3 (3200m) from outsiders Valmagne and Queen Kenny.

Marcoola (3c Sundon-Arabess) added the $80,000 Breckon Farms Northern Trotting Derby to his New Zealand Trotting Derby win for co-owner and driver Clint Ford, who races him with his father and the horse’s trainer, Ken Ford.

He wasn’t rushed early but took control mid-race and held easily from Temporale, who led then trailed. Fillies, High Gait unwound solidly late for third, ahead of Wilma’s Mate.