 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 2013
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
2013 SEELITE WINDOWS & DOORS SIRES' STAKES 2YO TROTTERS CHAMPIONSHIP
With four starters involved in the G2 Seelite Windows & Doors Sires' Stakes 2yo Trotters Championship at Addington on Saturday, Trevor Casey always held a strong hand, particularly after One Over Da Moon galloped his way out of contention from the start. And Casey got the perfect result when Daenerys Targaryen, the filly he bred and races on his own account, led from start to finish.
This was always the likely outcome after the beautiful and substantial Majestic Son filly drew the pole and One Over Da Moon had become overly keen in the score up and his gallop resulted in the crupper coming loose along with his remaining gear. With regular driver Ricky May back at the helm, Daenerys Targaryen easily held the lead and May sent them along at a solid clip before easily holding them all at bay with a final quarter in 28.3. The time of 2:28.8 was some way off Sheemon's race and national record 2:25.5 from last year, but May had only gone as fast as he needed.
Apart from precocious ability, Daenerys Targaryen's greatest assets have been her temperament and manners. She has now raced six times for three wins and three seconds, only being beaten by stablemate Not About The Money and One Over Da Moon in the Trotting Stakes. "I don't think she's ever put a foot wrong at home either," said Casey. "We knew she was good from the time Maree Price broke her in - she's usually right," he added.
Daenerys Targaryen is the sixth foal and fifth winner from broodmare revelation Niamey, the dam also of Casey's Jewels winner Pocaro (3, 1:57.5, 13 NZ wins, $233,000) and Springbank Sam (13 NZ wins, $223,000 to date), a last start second in the Rowe Cup. Casey recalled that he had been involved in racing Niamey for a few starts with trainer-driver Ken Barron and Gary Allen, but she had shown nothing and his partners weren't keen to breed. "She was actually pretty close to getting her head chopped off, but as a sister to Africa, I figured I would breed a couple of foals (Lord Nelson and Pacaro). Then Gary decided to breed a couple. He got Ugly Betty and then after I'd told him how good Pocaro was as a yearling, he put Niamey back to Sundon and got Springbank Sam (sold at Premier Sale)."
Casey then bred another brother to the latter in the placed 3yo Sun of Anarchy along with Daenerys Targaryen, although Niamey has only left one foal since in a weanling colt by The Pres. She is now in foal to Muscle Mass for Allen.
Trouble Rieu, a useful looking stayer in the making, stuck on well for second after sitting parked throughout and got a good reward for his effort to finish ahead of the winner's stablemates Twentyten, Hot Pants and Dieu De L'Amour, who were all close up.
But the Jewels is now looking like a race in two and One Over Da Moon will need to get things right. "There's a race at Addington next week for Daenerys Targaryen which will be a nice lead up to the Jewels. "She's in the Breeders Crown, but like most we'll just be looking to get through the Jewels before deciding anything about that. The way the costs are in going to the Crown, you pretty much need to win the thing."
Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 15May2013