Broodmare gem Satire Franco added to her super legacy when Dunrobin won her first start at Ascot Park on Saturday.
The Well Said filly became her dam’s seventh winner from Invercargill trainer Brent Shirley’s stable.
Dunrobin had an incredible 13 trials and workouts before making her winning debut. That could be a sign for some horses that they were struggling to make their way to the races.
But that is not the case for the stock of Satire Franco.
A patient approach with them reaps rewards, as was the case on Saturday.
In the last of Dunrobin’s workouts she beat smart 3yr-old Lawrence at Winton, which made Shirley think his approach would soon be rewarded.
"I was impressed with her run against Lawrence ... the week before. She ran past him like he was tied to a post."
A regime of heat training on Ascot Park’s sand track was partially responsible for having Dunrobin in such good form, Shirley said.
Dunrobin is raced by Shirley’s wife, Raewyn, John Edminstin, of Bluff, and Earl Shannon, of Switzerland.
"John is one of the best owners I have ever trained for and it was great for Earl, too. He managed to catch the race from France," Shirley said.
Dunrobin joined former Southland horse of the year Costa Del Magnifico (12) and handy performers including I Smart (6), When The Musics Over (5) and Rowchester (3) on Satire Franco’s New Zealand winners list. The latter three horses have also won in Australia.
Though she looks to be on a similar path to some of her successful siblings, Dunrobin is a little different from most of them.
"She appears to have a good turn of speed. . . . She has shown she can sprint up a bit.
"Most of them out of the mare haven’t been like that. They’re more staying types that take a bit to wind up to top speed."
Satire Franco is in great condition considering she has left 11 foals, and is having a season off broodmare duties because she foaled an American Ideal filly late in the spring.
Shirley is working towards a race career for Satire Franco’s 2yr-old, though he is not likely to race this season.
"He has shown a lot of ability, but he just needs a bit more time."
