Toni Direen rode her first winner yesterday in association with long-standing names in racing.
Direen (16) won a maiden race at Gore on The Boys, trained by her Wingatui employers Brian and Shane Anderton. She was having her eighth ride.
The Boys is raced by a syndicate of school friends and hence the name. She is held on on lease from Woodlands breeders Tony, Ray, Martin and Kevin Dennis.
The syndicate includes Brendan Dennis, a son of Martin. The brothers have been breeding and training horses for 50 years. They won with The Jester later in the day.
The Boys is a 4yr-old by Seasoned Star from The Melody, a winner by Straight Strike from The Reason, the dam of The Jester.
The Anderton stable also won yesterday with Flight Arrival and Notable, both ridden by stable apprentice Shankar Muniandy.
Flight Arrival, raced by Wayne and Karen Stewart, their sons, Ricky and Jason and daughter Renee, is a half-sister by Yamanin Vital to Royal Flight and Flight Captain.
Notable, owned by Brian and Hec Anderton, was wearing the colours carried by Princess Mellay, her grand dam who won the 1970 Tapanui Cup.
Princess Mellay, a dual New Zealand Cup winner, was trained by the late Hector Anderton and owned by the late Alice Anderton, parents of Brian and Hec.
Jillian Morris, who is back riding in the South Island, won the Tapanui Cup on Orlov yesterday.
Morris is on loan to the Waikuku trainers Michael and Tarsha Stokes from Shaune Clotworthy at Waiau Pa. She began her apprenticeship with Neill Ridley at Burnham.
Orlov, trained by part-owner Jim Curran, was having his 11th start. The 6yr-old did not begin racing until 10 months ago and cleared maiden ranks at Riverton in May. He was bred by Pam Trusttum, of Washdyke.
