Race Images South
Terri Rae has gavelhouse.com graduate Moyrabella on track for a tilt at the Group Three Winter Cup at Riccarton on Day One of their Grand National Carnival on 4 August.
With the country’s leading jockey Samantha Collet in the saddle at Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru last Friday, the Makfi mare started as favourite in the Night ‘N’ Day Park Mile. Having jumped from barrier seven, the duo worked forward to settle in second, putting pressure on the leader half a mile from home and kicked on to bravely denying challengers on either side of her to win by a half-length.
Terri Rae lined her up over the mile trip with the Winter Cup in mind and with a very convincing result Rae offered “She has pulled up really well and off the back of that win, the Winter Cup is now a genuine option for her so we’ve nominated her.”
Currently 22nd in the order of entry for the $100,000 Group Three feature, purchaser and co-owner Greg Taylor is hopeful that she can squeeze into the eventual 18-horse field and is thrilled with the ride they’ve had to date “It’s been an incredible journey so far and Terri has done a great job with the mare.”
“She’s come a long way in one year so hopefully we will get a start in the Cup and a chance to add some black type to her record but if she doesn’t, there’s a New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Race on the following Wednesday worth $32,500 so that’s the backup plan.”
The now four-year-old daughter of Makfi is proving a rewarding purchase for the syndicate, winning three of her last four starts and finishing runner up in the other. She has now returned $46,665 to her new connections in the 11 starts since her purchase online in April 2017 for $26,000 and rather than heading to the breeding paddock this spring, all going well, she is set to race on for another season.
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