Well-related mare Say Satono has earned a crack at black-type following her victory in the Birchfield Ross Mining Reefton Cup (1400m) on Wednesday.
Given an economical run in the one-one throughout, the daughter of Satono Aladdin was presented perfectly at the top of the home straight by jockey Tina Comignaghi and went on to score a three-quarter of a length victory over dual stakes winner Illicit Dreams, with a further 2-1/4 lengths back to Zoulander in third.
“It was a good win, she is a pretty handy mare. It was a pretty handy field too, so I was very happy,” trainer Andrew Carston said.
The victory continued a solid form line for the six-year-old mare, who is on lease from breeder Rich Hill Stud, and Carston will now give Say Satono her first crack at black-type in next month’s Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Hazlett Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui.
“This is our last year for the lease and I think she deserves a chance at black-type,” Carston said. She is well-bred and well-related – she is a half to She’s A Dealer and out of a Group One-winning mare (Say No More).
“She is a pretty valuable mare and Rich Hill leased her to us and have retained a share in the ownership. She has been a very handy mare and if she can get some black-type it would be icing on the cake.”
On Saturday Carston will return to the West Coast where the Riccarton trainer will line-up half a dozen runners at Kumara.
His strongest hand comes in the opening race of the meeting, the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1150m), where he will be represented by Steezy, Shesascorcher and Taimate Warrior.
“Steezy was just average first-up and was very good second-up,” Carston said. “I aimed her for the Pearl Bonus race, she is eligible for the bonus, as are all of mine in that race. I think the Pearl Bonus is great to target with the fillies and mares if they are eligible.
“Shesascorcher is a very nice filly, she just struggled at the 1400m last start, so we have opted to bring her back in trip. She is definitely not without a chance.
“Taimate Warrior has done nothing wrong. She was very good last start (when third) and gets a soft gate (5).
“There looks like there is going to be a little bit of rain around Kumara and I don’t think that will affect any of them.”
A day later, Carston will fly north to meet his Group Three performed filly Miss Ziggy ahead of her contesting the Cloudsoft Accounting 1500 at Ellerslie.
It will be her first run at the Auckland track since last season, where she had three starts, including a third placing in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).
She is currently ninth in order of entry for the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) on January 24, and Carston said Sunday’s race fits perfectly into their programme following her last start victory over 1400m at Ashburton on Christmas Eve.
“I am happy with how she has come through her last run,” Carston said.
“I am really excited to have her back up north. She arrives there this (Thursday) afternoon and will have a quiet time before Sunday.
“I felt it was a nice race to fit in between her last start and the Karaka Million 3YO, hopefully we can get her there.
“We like winning, but she is mainly there to have another look back around right-handed before the big dance.”