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Local trainer Karen Fursdon put thoughts of a slow start to the season to rest when she scored a double at Matamata on Saturday.
This was with Muscat Hills (NZ) (Sir Percy) and Silk Chardonnay (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn) saluting for the stable.
Fresh off a season best of 19 wins in 2013-2014, Fursdon admitted she was a little worried that the winners weren’t coming as regularly as they had in the previous 12 months.“We’ve got a really nice team around us but I had started to wonder when the wins would start to come as we had only had two until Saturday so it was nice to put another couple on the board” she noted.
Four-year-old mare Muscat Hills made it two wins from just three starts when she dented a few reputations in the second race on the card as owner Kevin Hickman snared the quinella with the Lance Noble trained Marcelle (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) grabbing second in a desperate finish to the event.“She’s not very big but she just tries her heart out so she is definitely one of those horses you want in your stable,” explained Fursdon.
“Because she’s not that robust we are going to have to space her races but I can see her getting over more ground and being a fairly handy middle distance prospect in the future.”The win by Muscat Hills is a boost for Lot 235, a half brother by Mastercraftsman, who will be offered at November’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale of two-year-olds through the Kilgravin Lodge draft.
Fursdon also has her eye on a staying prize for her other winner, Silk Chardonnay, who holds a nomination for the Gr. 3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup.The five-year-old daughter of Lucky Unicorn was perfectly rated by Fursdon’s apprentice Anna Jones as she led all the way over 2000 metres to capture the last race of the day.
“She is another who tries hard but you have to ride her just right to get the best out of her,” said Fursdon.“Anna did a marvelous job of rating her and she won nicely. I’d love to get her to Christchurch as I think the two miles won’t be a problem but she would need to get another win before then to be a realistic hope of making the field.”
Fursdon has a rating 75 2400metre contest at Ellerslie on the 25th of October in mind for Silk Chardonnay in her bid to qualify her for the big one at Riccarton on the 15th of November.