Ablaze in third win for the season

Ablaze had his third win for the season and second at Riccarton on Saturday (6/5/2017). The 5yr-old son of Raise The Flag - Alight, raced by co-trainer Brian Anderton and Mickle Weastell, the breeders, has now won four races. His latest win was in a rating 75 2000m.

White Robe Lodge also won at Riccarton with The Man, the son of Gallant Guru - Auntie. Both winners were ridden by stable apprentice Jacob Lowry.

Gallant Guru was represented by the maiden winners Gazza The Guru and Velvet Rose at Riverton on Thursday (4/5/2017). Gazza Guru is a 5yr-old trained at Invercargill by Sally McKay for Grant and Philippa McKenzie, of Invercargill. Grant and his brother Brent bred Gazza The Guru, the fifth and last foal of Starrinka, the dam of Brad Thorn (North Canterbury Cup) and Highly Likely (four wins). Starrinka, a mare by Volksraad, had one unplaced start. She is out of Zablinka, winner of the 1997 group three Wakefield Stakes  at Trentham as a 2yr-old for the McKenzie family and dam of The Meista, who won a Canterbury Gold Cup and Timaru Cup.

Velvet Rose is owned and trained by Taieri breeder and farrier Dale Horrell. She is the first of two foals left by Rosie O'Reilly, an O'Reilly mare.

Gallant Guru sired the winners Taieri Gem (maiden) and Rumpelstiltskin (open 1400m) at Invercargill on Sunday (14/5/2017). Taieri Gem, trained by Brian and Shane Anderton, is raced by breeders Brian and Lorraine Anderton with the Progressive syndicate. She is a 4yr-old mare and the second foal of La Gem (by Seasoned Star).