Alta Cinderella Claims the Mares Feature at Northam
An early race to race double saw trainer Peter Anderson take out the first two races on the card at Northam on Saturday night, with Our Glowing Star making it two in a row after sitting in the breeze throughout in the first, claiming the first by a neck in a mile rate of 2:01:3. Over the 1780m journey, the three-year-old filly started from barrier three, with Chris Lewis driving her out from release point to sit outside the leader, saluting at $14 odds for prominent owner, Allwood Stud.
In race two, it was a fresh-faced Cody Wallrodt on board the Peter Anderson trained Royal Order making it two in a row for the duo in a time of 2:00:7 over the 2190m trip. With a couple of starters going for a break at release point, the four-year-old gelding started from barrier six and lobbed the one-one position, going on to win by a half neck, giving owner Allwood Stud an early double on the card.
The third went the way of local trainer Jesse Moore and his filly Testarudo making it two in a row in 2:00:9 by a margin of 1.2m on the line. After leading all the way for driver Gary Hall Jnr, she managed to stave off the race favourite, recording her third career victory in 18 starts.
It was a night of value for punters with the first four winners on the card adding
Another Snag continued to provide value for punters, with the $6 shot leading all the way, managing to kick away from the short-priced favourite Copy N Pace NZ, to win by 6.4m for trainer Terry Atkins and driver Aldo Cortopassi. With a win just two starts ago, the five-year-old gelding kicked in the straight, recording a mile rate of 1:58:7 over the 2190m.
There was finally some reprieve for favourite punters, with Alta Cinderella getting the job done for trainer Gary Hall Snr and driver Gary Hall Jnr in the feature for the night, the $14,000 WASBA/Allwood Stud Farm Virgil Queen Celebration Westbred Mares pace over the 2190m. In a mile rate of 1:58:5, the $1.75 favourite was briefly in the breeze before powering on to the lead, going on to win comfortably by 6.2m, recording her fifth career victory in just 10 starts.
“She’s actually got very good ability but she’s crazy. If she ever learns to settle down a bit and drive properly, she’ll turn in to a FFA mare,”
“But she’s been crazy for a while now, so we aren’t holding our breath,”
“We bred her though, so that always makes it a bit more special when they can run.” Gary Hall Jnr Said.
Bazza Mac NZ led all the way in the fifth on the card, giving trainer Sandra McKinlay her first win with the gelding at his sixth start in the new stable since purchasing him in May/June this year. The six-year-old began well from barrier one, with the $1.20 favourite never in doubt, going on to win by 8m in 2:01:3 over the 2190m journey.
It was a race to race driving double for Chris Voak, with the winning steer on board How Gouda She for Hayden Reeves. The six-year-old seasoned mare broke through for her first win for Reeves’ stable since making the move in June, recording her fifth career win in 98 starts. Starting off the front-line handicap, she stepped faultlessly and led all the way in 2:02:9 over the 2150m standing start.
It was the two-year-old’s that closed the meeting at Northam, but there was plenty of action in the last with multiple gallopers in the early part of the 1780m sprint. Race favourite Adda Stormy Lady managed to find the front early and that’s where she stayed, recording her maiden win in 2:00:8 for Kim and Madeliene Young.
Ashleigh Paikos