Bits N Bridles

On a weekend when the deeds of fine trotting mare Jasmyn’s Gift were celebrated with a race named in her honour at Oamaru, one of her granddaughters won a Group One race at Melton.

Kyvalley Dixon (Majestic Son) took out the G1 Vicbred Super Series for two year old trotting fillies.

She’s out of Liberty Stride, a Muscle Hill daughter of Jasmyn’s Gift who won two races for Phil Williamson before heading to Australia where from a limited number of starts she won a further two races, including the 2019 Breeders Crown for three year old fillies, also at Melton.

Kyvalley Dixon which is owned by Jim Connelly and trained by Brent Lilley has now won four of her ten starts.

Kerryn Tomlinson had a day to remember at Oamaru on Sunday when she drove Way Coola (Marcoola) to win.

It was the first time she’s bred, trained and driven a winner and what made it even more special was that her mother Amanda and grandfather Ken Ford trained the runner Second Thoughts, which was driven by Kerryn’s sister Sheree.

Way Coola is by the Ford family stallion Marcoola and is out of No Way, making him a half-brother to Alley Way (11) and Only One Way (8).

This Friday sees the running of the Spring Cup at Alexandra Park in Auckland.

The race has been a feature on the Auckland harness racing calendar for more than three decades and Barry Purdon in his own right or with training partner Scott Phelan, has won the race nine times, dating back to Vic’s Vance in 1996.

Barry trained the first dual winner of the pacing feature Anvil’s Vance, while Barry and Scott trained Sooner The Better, which is the only other horse to win the race twice.

Copy That (2021), Changeover (2008) and Just An Excuse (2003) all won a Spring Cup  and then went on to win the New Zealand Cup in the same year.

Friday night’s other feature is the $100,000 Caduceus Club Two Year Old Fillies Classic.

The Caduceus Club was formed as a Luncheon Club in Auckland forty years ago. Funds were raised from a Casino gambling night and enough money was raised to run two $5,000 heats and a $25,000 final which was won by Coma Berenices trained by Ron Dalziel.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink