Brother to 2yr-old winner in South Island sale

A brother to Live Drama (Ghibellines -Sheeza Drama filly), a 2yr-old winner at Riccarton on Saturday, is among the White Robe Lodge draft for the New Zealand Bloodstock South Island sale in Christchurch on April 29. Five of the progeny of Ghibellines are in the draft.

Live Drama, bred by Brian and Lorraine Anderton was bought for $8500 by Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson at the 2018 South Island sale.

"I met members of the No 8 syndicate from Timaru at a race meeting and they were keen to get a horse to race in the South Island,'' recalled Christine Robinson, wife of Lance.

The syndicate comprises Lindsay Hewitson, Mike Denton, Tom O'Carroll and Ken Rutherford. They share the ownership of Live Drama with John Dunnett, of Christchurch and his son, Callum, John O'Dea, of Christchurch, Lance and Christine. John's wife, Susanne is a member of the board of the Canterbury Jockey Club.

Live Drama is the second 2yr-old winner from the first crop of WRL sire, Ghibellines. The other is El Gladiador.

Live Drama is the second winner from as many foals to race out of Sheeza Drama. The other is Says Me, a filly by Rothesay who won two races in Queensland. Brian and Lorraine bought Sheeza Drama as a broodmare at a sale in Queensland after success with other members of the family, Cherry Creek and her offspring, Coulee, both stakes winners.

"It is a speed family and that is why I bought in to it,'' said Brian.

Sheeza Drama is a half sister by Pure Theatre to Stage Whisper, winner of five races in Australia and stakes placed. Another half sister Stage Flash is the dam of Cherry Creek, a listed race winner and dam of Coulee, a multiple group three winner.

Robinson won three races at Riccarton last Saturday, aided by WRL riders. Jacob Lowry rode Khimar War and apprentice Corey Campbell was aboard Boots 'N' All in the Hororata Cup.

Campbell will be riding at Ellerslie on Saturday at the invitation of the Auckland Racing Club. It is a gesture from the club for overlooking Campbell in an invitation race for apprentices this season. He was then the leading New Zealand apprentice and is still only two wins behind Ryan Elliot despite a six week lay-off from early January with a knee fracture.

He rode the WRL- trained Tony Two Chips (Raise The Flag - Sumtime) to win at Riccarton last Saturday. Stablemate Zabay achieved black type with her bold finishing second in the group three Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m) and Tommy Tucker indicated he is far from a spent force when a close second in the Hororata Cup (1800m) the same day.