Four winners for Gallant Guru

Gallant Guru sired four winners at the Gore Racing Club feature meeting on Saturday (23/1/2016) ---- Willow, Waylay, The Gallant Girl and Tutor. Another White Robe Lodge sire, Raise The Flag, sired the winner Landales Gold at the same meeting.

Willow and Waylay, both 3yr-old fillies, bred and trained by WR, cleared maiden ranks. The Gallant Girl credited Robert Dennis with his first training success. He joined his father, Tony and Uncles Ray, Martin and Joe in a partnership at Woodlands this season. It was the fourth win for the 7yr-old The Gallant Girl. Tutor, raced on lease from Brian and Lorraine Anderton by Invercargill owner-trainer Murray Carter and his family,has won three races.

Waylay, who ran fourth in her other start in October, is the second winner from as many foals to race out of Lurk (Seasoned Star - Stealthy). The other is Secret Guru. Lurk won two races when trained by Hec and Steve Anderton. She is being bred from by Brian and Lorraine, who race Waylay with Peter O'Malley, his son, Mark, of Ikamatua,  brothers Russell Byrne, of Greymouth and Darryl , of Culverden and Graham Prendergast, of Ikamatua.

Willow, who had finished fourth in each of her other two starts, was bred by  WR stud managers Wayne and Karen Stewart, who race her with  their sons, Jack and Ricky and friends of the boys, Craig Millar, Hayden Parker, Matt Casey, Matt Joy, Hayden Miller, Henry Parker, Will McKee and Callum Wardell. Millar and Hayden Parker are in the Highlanders rugby team.

Willow is out of Woodini, the dam of Millbank, winner of the group three 2008 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley. Woodini is a half sister by Woodman to Zilzie (Taranaki Cup and Rotorua Challenge Plate) and Pinsgold (eight wins).