The Winning Continues

Notching her third win for owner Stan Painton, Lady Painton (5 m Tavistock - Lady Verify, by Grand Lodge) won the $10,000 H R Fiskens & Sons Rating 70 1400 metres on 4 May at Pukekohe.

“Our last four runners have all won and three of those were having their first starts,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis. “Not only that but we've had wins with 12 of the last 20, which is just incredible.

“To win with four runners in a row is a remarkable achievement, and the strike rate for the stable is currently 5.1. It's made even more significant when you think we've been running two or three horses in some races and five in the Karaka Million, so it's hard on your strike rate when you do that and you only get these results if you've got a team that's working really well together.

“This mare ran a good race for Stan (Painton) when finishing third last time at Avondale. Steve and Jamie gave her a bit of time following that run, had her ready to win today and Tegan (Newman) gave her a lovely ride.”

Travelling well, between horses on the pace, Lady Painton held her position as the whole field scouted wide around the home turn and in a tight finish she responded to the urgings of Newman, pulling out a bit extra to win by a head.

A winner previously on dead and slow ground, and having her won her Maiden by a whopping 15 lengths, Lady Painton returned to racing last December, following a lengthy spell through injury, and now won two of her six starts since.

In beating a strong field, Lady Painton ran the 1400 metres in 1:25.0 on footing rated Slow9 and paid $8.30 & $2.60 on the NZ TAB tote ($9.00 & $2.85 fixed odds).

“We're very happy with the result,” said co-trainer Stephen Autridge. “She's an underrated horse and an underrated apprentice.

“She can handle the ground, she's needed the time and the pedigree and everything suggests she can continue.

“I think you'll see plenty of results from Tegan. She's a very strong hands' and heels' rider and has a good brain on her. We sent her to the South Island to look after our horses in the spring, so she hasn't had that many rides but she'll ride plenty of winners from now on.”

Lady Painton (green diamonds) was strapped by Jahmane Murray-Bromwich.
Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz