Westwood trainer Graeme Anderson reached a personal best training tally of 33, for this season in a solo capacity, with the wins of Azalea and Sweet As at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
He is the top strike rate trainer in New Zealand with a UDR of .4747. His small team has raced 99 times this season.
Azalea and Sweet As are among 16 individual winners during the season for Anderson, spearheaded by Eamon Maguire, who won seven races and $81,455.
Anderson won 35 races with Amber Hoffman as a partnership in the 2010/11 season. His previous best on his own was 31 last season.
Azalea was having her fourth start for the stable after being purchased six weeks ago by the Sue Ping, Bratk and High Hopes Racing syndicates. The four-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight and In Bloom had twice minor placed in four starts for trainer Jamie Gameson. In Bloom is the dam of winners Noddy, Blue Mint and Brindy, her three other foals to race.
In Bloom is a daughter of In The Pocket and the great mare Blossom Lady, the dam of Mister D G.
Sweet As joined Anderson after finishing fourth in a claiming race at Forbury Park a week earlier. She won two for Templeton trainer Peter Robertson and two for Southland trainer Alan Paisley.
“She (Sweet As) just loves the place,” said Anderson referring to his beach training facility.
Hoffman produced To Ri Alby to win in his first race for 13 months.
“He has had three surgeries on his near front leg after he tore a tendon," said Hoffman, who trains on the beach at Waikouaiti.
The surgery was carried out by veterinarian Peter Gillespie, a member of the In The Black syndicate, who lease To Ri Alby. Gerald Cayford, president of the Forbury Park club; Tony Gow, a committee member, track manager Ken McFarlane and Michelle Scarf are also in the syndicate.
To Ri Alby, now a six-year-old, had two third placings in three starts before he went amiss. He is by Badlands Hanover from Carmel Maria, whose four progeny to race have been winners. They include Second Wind (10 wins) and Precious Mach (nine).
Alan Clark, the Washdyke trainer-driver broke a drought when the two-year-old trotter Imperial Whiz was successful at his 24th start. Clark had not won a race since The Fiery Ginga was successful at Addington in October, 2014. Clark and his wife, Fiona bred Imperial Whiz, a half-brother by Imperial Count to Anothersuperstar (seven wins).
Rocknroll Magic returned to Mosgiel with his owners Syd and Shona Brown after an eight and a half length win. The half-brother by Rocknroll Hanover to Len Smith Mile winner Field Marshal, will now be spelled. Trained by Tim Butt, Rocknroll Magic has won three of his nine starts.
“Field Marshal has travelled well and settled at the Gold Coast stable of Shannon Price," said Syd Brown. His next start in the $50,000 Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park on July 8.
Pat Campbell led through the $10,000 Final of the Sprint Series (1200m) in the hands of Jessica Young. Jackalack Sue won the final of the claiming series with the favourite Elusive Flight out of contention after breaking a hopple early in the race.
Paul’s Verdict, trained 800km away at Blenheim by Sandra Mounce, led for most of the way to post his fifth win.
“We came down for the Marlborough meeting at Addington on Sunday and decided to continue to Dunedin," said Sandra’s husband, John, the owner who accompanied Paul’s Verdict. The Mounces operate the One Tree Lodge motel and sponsored a race at the Marlborough meeting.
Blazing Under Fire was back to his best with a dashing win. His trainer Phil Williamson has won 42 races for trotters this season. Springbank Eden has been sold out of the stable and he will do his immediate racing at Menangle. He won 10 races for owners Alistair and Denise Smith.
