A connection made 28 years years ago has led to Jazmin Robyn winning her two starts for Tapanui owner Graeme Edgar since joining to the Motukarara stable of Stephen McNally.
Jazmin Robyn reverted to Edgar a month ago after being raced on a lease by a group of mainly Christchurch owners.
Some of the group had incurred major business losses as a result of the Christchurch earthquake.
Jazmin Robyn had won them four races, including the 2010 Nelson Winter Cup Prelude when trained by David and Catherine Butt.
Edgar then consulted his longtime friend Ray McNally, father of Stephen, about the future for Jazmin Robyn,"Graeme sent me Ryal Robyn to train about 30 years ago and I won three raes with her," Ray McNally said.
"I suggested he continue with Jazmin Robyn in training with Stephen for a while and see how things worked out."
Ryal Robyn (Nevele Bigshot-Ryal Faye) is the granddam of Jazmin Robyn.
Ryal Robyn made her mark as a broodmare as the dam of six winners including Robyn's Treasure, winner of the 1994 New Zealand Oaks and Sires' Stakes Final for Edgar and Ross Wilson (her trainer).
Jazmin Robyn, a rising 6yr-old mare, is by Life Sign out of Robyns'A Holmes, an unraced daughter of Holmes Hanover and Ryal Robyn.
It was the second Nelson Winter Cup win for Stephen McNally. He drove Apatchee to win for trainer Richard Aubrey in 2005.
Brownie and How Do Mate completed doubles for the Nelson meeting yesterday.
The Greg and Nina Hope-trained Brownie was resuming from a five-month break at Richmond Park on Friday.
How Do Mate, trained by Philip Vermeulen, has now won three times from eight starts.
• Ruler On Ice won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday at odds of 24-to-one, AP reports.
Ruler On Ice, ridden by Jose Valdiva jun, won by three-quarters of a length from Stay Thirsty. Valdiva jun was riding in a Belmont Stakes for the first time.
Shackleford, winner of the Preakness Stakes, finished fifth after leading.
Animal Kingdom, winner of the Kentucky Derby, finished sixth after colliding with Monzon just after the start.
Ruler On Ice, trained in New Jersey by Kelly Breen, did not run in the first two legs of the Triple Crown.
• Chris Munce won the Brisbane Cup for the fifth time aboard Tullamore at Eagle Farm on Saturday, AAP reports.
Munce won the race last year on Crossthestart and he has won the race on Grooming (1992) and Desert Chill (1995 and 1997). Munce said Tullamore raced keenly in the early stages but relaxed well when he got into his rhythm.
