Saint Maddie goes out on a winning note
Just how far Saint Maddie – unraced at the time – has progressed since joining Dean Fennell’s Glencoe kennels back in mid-April was highlighted by her effort in last Thursday’s JB Irrigation Mixed Stake (512 m) at Tara Raceway.
The rank outsider at $31 in the top class five-dog field, Saint Maddie sat in second spot behind Rock It Fernando for the majority of the journey before grabbing a half-head victory in a best of day 29.82 seconds.
The run was certainly a far cry from a couple of early wins when the black bitch struggled to break 24 seconds over the 400 metres journey although recent efforts against similar company to last Thursday had been full of merit.
The June 2018 whelping is owned by Koroit breeder Peter Byrne who transferred her to Fennell after the border closure prevented Victorian participants from racing at Tara Raceway.
By Peter Rocket, Saint Maddie is out of Miss Lava, a litter sister to top performers Annie Lava, Back On Lava and John John Lava, and herself a winner over 515 metres and 595 metres at Sandown Park and also over 600 metres at Tara Raceway.
Last Thursday’s start was the last at Tara Raceway for Saint Maddie – for the time being at least – with Fennell reporting that Byrne is to give her a chance in Melbourne with Lara trainer Brendan Pursell.
She leaves Glencoe with a record of five wins and seven minor placings from 13 starts.
In the race prior, the Greg Martlew Autos Stake (512 m), Dusseldorp led all the way to defeat Dare To Do by half a length with Charming Charlie making up plenty of ground to finish third in 30.06 seconds.
Owned by the Nineofus Syndicate, Jason Newman and trainer David Peckham, her win continued the successful run connections are enjoying with members of the Barcia Bale x Call Me Gee litter – Sweet On Me and Call Me Billy, both currently Adelaide-based.
Dusseldorp’s win came at her first Tara Raceway start, purchased last month after being advertised for sale by Nhill breeder-owner-trainer Andrea Gurry who had received the brindle bitch as a pup in return for rearing before winning six races with her on Victorian provincial tracks.
Dusseldorp, like Saint Maddie, traces back to the Mugavin foundation bitch Val Matese as do plenty of other Tara Raceway winners over the years, not the least being Mount Gambier Cup winners Poetic Magic, Rich Shiraz and Galactic Athena.
Saint Maddie will continue her racing in Victoria after an impressive win at Tara Raceway last Thursday.