NZ Win 130 - Lisheen Wins on Debut

A fine weekend continued for Te Akau Racing when Lisheen (3 f Pins - Invermoray, by Volksraad) made a winning debut in the $10,000 Pike Racing Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on Sunday at Te Aroha.

Champion trainer Jamie Richards had extended his record-breaking stakes' wins on Saturday at Trentham, with Need I Say More (No Nay Never) in the Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m), while stable-mate Cornflower Blue (Savabeel) finished third, and Amarelinha (Savabeel) was victorious in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m).

Lisheen had been untroubled winning off the front when trialling on 2 March at Rotorua, and overcame barrier 10 to race outside Caminata (Darci Brahma) in front. The pair settled down to duel in the straight, before she gained ascendency under Danielle Johnson over the concluding stages.

Johnson had recorded her 1000^thcareer win aboard stable-mate Feelin' Fancy (Rip Van Winkle) on the course in February, and sharpened her strike rate with the trainer to 3.7.

On footing rated Dead4, Lisheen covered the 1200 metres in 1:11.6.

“It was a good tough win and I was very pleased with that,” Richards said. “She's always been a filly that's shown plenty of potential but had a few little immaturity issues along the way, so there was good reason for not getting to the races until after Christmas as a three-year-old. But good things come to those who wait and Gordon (Cunningham) has been very patient and allowed us the time.

“She won with a good solid performance and I think the form will stack up okay. The second horse (Caminata) looks above average, and she had to do a bit of work to get across from a wide gate.

“Gordon is one of the leading studmasters in the industry, and I'm pleased for everyone at home in the Middle Barn that have done such a good job. Farriers Gareth Allis and Kim Hughes did a great job on her feet, and thanks to the team at Margaret Park where she spent time on the water treadmill.”

Shelley Frost and her late mother, Raewyn Ramage, have bred three generations of the family at Braided River Thoroughbreds, including stakes' winning former stable-mate and five-time winner Weaponry (Declaration of War). Owned by Gordon Cunningham (Curraghmore Stud), Lisheen is a half-sister to talented filly Piper (O'Reilly).

Lisheen carries a cross of immortal sire Northern Dancer through her sire lines, on the dam side of grand-sire Snippets, and the sire line of dam sire Volksraad.

“I'm thrilled and a great thanks to the team at Te Akau,” said Cunningham, toasting the success on course.

“She was born and raised at Curraghmore, and offered by very good clients at the weanling sale. It was lovely to be able to buy the filly from them, from a very good family that they've produced and we've had a lot of success with on the farm.

“We liked her from birth and as she grew and developed. We were delighted to have the opportunity to send her to Te Akau. She's been brilliantly progressed and trained by Jamie (Richards) and we're thrilled she could win on debut at Te Aroha.

“Her mother, Invermoray, is a sister to Velocitea (Volksraad), who was a very good filly in Australia, winning the Goodwood (Gr. 1, 1200m) and three other stakes' races, and is also a half-sister to Maastricht (Mastercraftsman), who is the dam of dual Group One winning sprinter Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible). So, it's a family that we're very fond of that's for sure.”

Lisheen was strapped by Jamie Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz