Lady Zafira
Race Images Palmerston North
Consistent mare Lady Zafira capped a string of minor placings with a gritty performance to register her fourth career win on the weekend.
The locally prepared mare was coming off the back of an unlucky run on her home track a fortnight ago and was confidently expected to perform well again despite the fact it was the five-year-old's first race over a distance greater than 1400 metres.
Trainer John Bary was keen to see his charge perform over the 1600 metre journey of Saturday's event as he looks towards potential Group level opportunities next season. Those opportunities are now a reality with Lady Zafira handling the step up with aplomb as she held out her rating 85 rivals narrowly but well in the Livamol sponsored contest.
"She's a very handy mare who has only missed a cheque twice in 17 starts to date," he noted.
"The times she did finish out of the money were when she was getting over a muscle injury so she really has done an excellent job for us.
"The plan is to get her some black-type for a future breeding career so that's what we will concentrate on from now. The opportunities can be a little limited if you're just an out and out sprinter but now she's shown the mile won't be a problem it does open up a much wider field for us."
Bary will wait to see how the mare comes through her exertions before deciding on whether to give her one more run in this campaign or to head straight to the spelling paddock. If the former is the chosen option then the Listed Rotorua stakes on 14 May, a Fillies & Mares WFA contest over 1400 metres, will become her preferred target provided a suitably dry track is on offer on the day. – NZ Racing Desk
The locally prepared mare was coming off the back of an unlucky run on her home track a fortnight ago and was confidently expected to perform well again despite the fact it was the five-year-old's first race over a distance greater than 1400 metres.
Trainer John Bary was keen to see his charge perform over the 1600 metre journey of Saturday's event as he looks towards potential Group level opportunities next season. Those opportunities are now a reality with Lady Zafira handling the step up with aplomb as she held out her rating 85 rivals narrowly but well in the Livamol sponsored contest.
"She's a very handy mare who has only missed a cheque twice in 17 starts to date," he noted.
"The times she did finish out of the money were when she was getting over a muscle injury so she really has done an excellent job for us.
"The plan is to get her some black-type for a future breeding career so that's what we will concentrate on from now. The opportunities can be a little limited if you're just an out and out sprinter but now she's shown the mile won't be a problem it does open up a much wider field for us."
Bary will wait to see how the mare comes through her exertions before deciding on whether to give her one more run in this campaign or to head straight to the spelling paddock. If the former is the chosen option then the Listed Rotorua stakes on 14 May, a Fillies & Mares WFA contest over 1400 metres, will become her preferred target provided a suitably dry track is on offer on the day. – NZ Racing Desk
