Our Marvellous Madame

While a half head margin snared Madame Jamai (4 m Minstrel Court - Palais Jamai, by Grand Lodge) her second win, it provided owners and breeders Barry & Deirdre Neville-White their 193^rd and not their first at Timaru.

Speaking from their home in Auckland, Barry Neville-White said: “I raced Kanga's Lad and he beat Grey Way in the Washdyke Stakes. Tony Burridge trained him for me at Hastings.

“He (Tony) always stayed at my place in Auckland; I had a small farm. He came up one day to drop a horse off and he said to ‘old' Fred who managed the farm for me, tell Barry I've taken it home. He (Kanga's Lad) won 14 races.

“It's the same colours carried to victory by Kerry Lane in the (1986) Auckland Cup,” said Neville-White.

Looking to utilize barrier three in the Equine Veterinary Services Rating 65 1200 metres, Madame Jamai was fourth before ranging with more to offer on home bend and held a late closer with a determined effort under jockey Matt Cameron.

She ran the trip in 1:09.5, last 600m in 35.5.

“She's a well bred filly and she'll win a couple more,” said Neville-White. “She could be one to go down and watch during cup week in Christchurch."

Under the tutelage of assistant trainer Pam Gerard, managing the Te Akau team based at Riccarton, Madame Jamai won a $30,000 Maiden 1200 metres in November last year at Riccarton (clocking 1:09.4, last 600m in 33.8).

“She's a tough wee thing,” said Gerard. “She's pulled up like she needed a run. She's had a blow and her coat is not completely out yet, but she still looks pretty good.

“The way she had been working I thought she would be hard to beat, anyway, and Matt (Cameron) said she just got a bit tired the last bit. So, there's improvement still there."

Madame Jamai had resumed 27 days earlier with a solid fresh up effort for fourth in the Rating 65 1200 metres on Slow8 at Ashburton, and she appreciated the good ground at Washdyke.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz