Racing: Jumpouts field demonstrates promise

More than 60 horses attended the Stratford Racing club jumpouts held at Te Kapua Park last Sunday where local trainers, preparing their horses for the winter raceday at Stratford on June 27, showed a lot of potential.

The Dick and Chris Bothwell barn had four winners on the day with an unnamed Citi Habit 3-year-old filly scoring impressively in the first heat over 600m. Hi Fiver, a 2-year-old filly and one of the few progeny of the ill-fated stallion DanFive, was impressive, winning her heat over 800m by some three lengths.

The regally bred Composing disposed of her rivals with a devastating turn of foot over 800m and handy winter galloper Duke of Dirk showed he was coming to hand nicely in winning his heat by a head.

The Tina Egan stable had two wins on the day with the consistent Riverman Jack leading all the way to win by a neck over 1400m and useful mare Better Keeper winning her heat also over 1400m by a nose.

The Jason Zuppicich trained Urban Dancer also won his heat over 800m under a nice hold; the former Hong Kong galloper has shown a lot of promise and his trainer is expecting a good winter with him.