Whanganui trainer Paul Belsham’s progressive galloper Slazenjah (Towkay-Crisp by Zeditave) all-but guaranteed himself a start in races such as the Fielding and Whanganui Cups through November, with a strong staying performance to win the 2100m Raukawa Cup at Otaki on Saturday.
Although bred more to win a Telegraph than a staying feature, the versatile five-year-old has proven something of a revelation when tried over ground, with three wins and a second placing now from five career starts past 1600m.
The addition of blinkers to the Towkay mare Heni (Towkay-Bahhzaar by Bahare) has certainly worked the oracle, with the five-year-old mare registering her third win from four starts in the hood with her latest success at Ashburton on Saturday over 1400m. She will be part of a strong team heading to the NZ Cup Carnival for in-form trainer Mike Breslin.
Connections of three-year-old Cantelina (Per Incanto-Likenothinelsie by Howbaddouwantit) will no doubt be optimistically eyeing up longer distance events after their filly came from well back at the turn to win over 1200m at Ashburton on Saturday.
In Australia, four-year-old Nadeem mare Society Queen (Nadeem-Jaes Jeune by Jeune) is obviously a real flying machine, recording consecutive wins over 800m, her latest on Saturday in sub 45 seconds.
