Four Wins in Four Days

Given a beautiful trip by rider Cameron Lammas, Lady Painton (5 m Tavistock - Lady Verify, by Grand Lodge) returned to winning form in the $10,000 Kope Turf Bar Rating 65 1400 metres on 29 January at Te Teko.

Camped on the leaders, before trailing at the 800m, Lammas had Lady Painton purring around the home bend and she quickened to score narrowly but well.

Returning $9.00 & $2.50 fixed odds on the NZ TAB, Lady Painton ran the 1400 metres on Dead4 in 1:24.1.

The win provided trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards their fourth win in four days, having won the Woodville Cup with Wide Awake (Savabeel), Mongolian Khan Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) with Melody Belle (Commands), and Avantage (Fastnet Rock) made it back-to-back wins for Te Akau in the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) - won in 2017 by Melody Belle.

A 15-length Maiden winner over 1400 metres in 2015 at Waipa, Lady Painton had resumed off a lengthy injury layoff with a good sixth in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 14 December at Hastings, and had an excuse last time out on 12 January at Matamata.

“We thought she would have gone well at Matamata, but she let us down a bit and we found the next day she had a sore foot,” said co-trainer Stephen Autridge.

“It was as though she could have stood on a something quite sharp in the race. It could have been a plate (shoe) on the ground, we don't quite know.

“She was off the scene with bad back problems and the vet said that all we could do was to give her six months (spell) and if it came right, good, and if not she'll make a nice broodmare.

“We gave her a bit more than six months and now we have the treadmill, which is perfect for a horse like her, and so far everything is going well.”

Lady Painton boasts a notable cross of Quest for Fame (Rainbow Quest) in the dam line on both sides of her pedigree, and her grand-dam, Tributes (Quest for Fame), won the 1999 VRC Oaks (Gr. 1, 2500m) and finished second in the AJC Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m).

“We think she's above average,” Autridge said. “She's got a pedigree and the win is great for her owner, Stan Painton. We just have to keep her sound.

“Cameron (Lammas) has done most of the work, always liked her, and felt she was spot on coming in to today.”

Lady Painton was strapped by Mette Mosebo.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz