Madame Marvellous

The Informant reports ...

Madame Jamai scored a timely win when she ran away with the second race at Riccarton today, the Paint Lab Hornby Premier.

The daughter of former Te Akau Racing stakes winner Minstrel Court showed a clean set of heels to her rivals in the 1100-metre contest to score by two-and a half lengths. At her previous start she had won a Rating 65 1200-metre race at Washdyke and managed the step up to Rating 75 with ease.

The Stephen Autridge-Jamie Richards-trained chestnut stalked the pacemaker Thwayya before kicking clear with 300 metres to run and hitting the line two and a half lengths clear of Dezzies Dream.

Madame Jamai is owned by Auckland couple Barry and Deirdre Neville-White, whose colours will also be carried later today by well fancied Sothys New Zealand 2000 Guineas runner Ali Baba.

Te Akau boss David Ellis paid a special tribute to senior staff member Pam Gerard, who has supervised members of the Matamata stable during their very successful southern spring.

“Pam's father Mick passed away yesterday, but she's here working today and she'll take a lot of comfort from this win,” Ellis said. “This mare is one of her favourites and it's also appropriate that she's being strapped today by Pam's son Jack.”

Sabin Kirkland was thrilled with the late closing second by Dezzies Dream, who he races with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and Grant McKenzie.

“That was just what we wanted to see leading into the 1000 Guineas,” said Kirkland. “Steve's not here today - I think he's all peopled out - but he'll be here next Saturday.”