12By Duane Ranger

Don’t be surprised if Steven Reid and Simon McMullan qualify for their first Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Championship Final at Alexandra Park on December 31.

The Pukekohe horsemen have never had a starter in the Group One $150,000 feature pace for the 3-year-old fillies, but after tonight’s sixth event at ‘The Park’ Utmost Delight could change all that.

The very well-bred daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Victor Supreme is likely to start one of the favourites in tonight’s $22,000 Second Sires Stakes Heat.

The first heat, which was run at Addington last week, was won by Mark Jones trained $1.90 favourite, Delightful Memphis (Blair Orange), who beat Major Rocket (Dexter Dunn) and Smiley Sophie (Natalie Rasmussen).

There are four heats – two each at Alexandra Park and Addington Raceway. Last year’s grand final was won by the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen trained $1.10 hot favourite, Golden Goddess (Rasmussen).

The Charles Roberts owned and bred Utmost Delight was an impressive one-and-a-three-quarter length winner on debut at Alexandra Park on October 14.

She and David Butcher trailed her stablemate My Kiwi Lady (Zac Butcher) throughout the 2200m mobile and then in the lane surged away from her seven opponents to win in 2:45.2 (mile rate 2:00.8) and home in 56.9 and 28.1.

“She drew one that night and got the trip, She’s drawn a bit wider this time (6) and will have to work harder for her win. It’s a very even field but she has kept on improving since the day we qualified her (six seconds under time) in May,” McMullan said.

“She’s even improved a lot since that first run here a fortnight ago,” he added.

Utmost Delight hasn’t finished further back than second in four workouts and trials since May. McMullan said she had the all-round game.

“It’s a bit early to be speaking about how good she is after just one easy run but she has a nice gait and a nice turn of foot. We were surprised how quickly she has come up this time in. I really like her speed though.

“We didn’t expect her to be so forward so soon. If she can get the run again she can win it, but it looks an even field with a lot of more seasoned horses in the race. This will be a good gauge as to where she sits,” said McMullan.

Toughest for Utmost Delight to beat will be the two pacers drawn the inside of the front row – the Tony Herlihy (MNZM) trained and driven crystal Sparkles and the Barry Purdon trained Lady Madonna (Zac Butcher) – who has been a convincing winner of her two starts this campaign.

The last time Reid had a starter in the Group One Sires Stakes Championship Final was six years ago when Maid In Splendour finished seventh.

McMullan said their stable’s best winning chance tonight (Friday) was Tuhimata Lass (David Butcher) in the last event – the $12,000 Auckland Co-op Taxis Handicap for the up to R48 trotters.

Tuhimata Lass is rated 51 (conditions) and has the ideal draw of two over tonight’s 2200m trot.

“She’s working the best of our team lining up on Friday and is close to winning. She’s placed twice from a stand and gets every chance here to notch up her first win in six starts.

“The mare has been knocking on the door with consecutive seconds here in September (30) and October (14),” McMullan said.

HRNZ

 

 

 

 

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