Wingatui trainer Steven Anderton has confirmed The Glitzy One has been retired following her fourth in the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday.
What a mare she has been for Steven and the quartet of Dennis brothers. The scary thing is her achievements (eight wins, $190,157) could be usurped by her younger half-sister, The Diamond One.
The only chance of The Glitzy One returning to the track is if she is unable to get in foal in the next breeding season.
Not so sparkling
Speaking of shiny things, the Harness Jewels are not too far away - just over three weeks, in fact. The Otago-trained representation is looking a shade light this year. Belkmyster is the best placed in the six pacing categories, sitting in 16th place in the 4yr-old male category.
In the trotting gait, Zhenya is in 14th in the 3yr-old category, still needing some more money to work her way in to the field. On the upside, there are plenty of Otago-owned standardbreds set to represent their connections at Cambridge on the 31st, so we'll pin our hopes to anything, right?
Budding Trainor
Young Jack Trainor is starting to kick into gear in New South Wales. The son of Forbury Park stalwarts Darryl and Anne, Jack did not have all the chances in the world early on in his sojourn in Australia, but now they are starting to come and he' is reaping the rewards.
The latest reward is an invitation to the Harness Racing New South Wales Rising Stars series. The series, run across New South Wales, sees 10 young drivers compete over a week from late June. He even got a chance to drive a couple of horses on Len Smith Mile day at Menangle in late April for his employer, Shane Tritton.
Star following
Congratulations to Taieri residents Phil and Margaret Creighton, who are in the ownership of a horse the Australians are calling one of the best 2yr-olds in recent years.
Follow The Stars was simply brilliant in winning the Australian Pacing Gold 2yr-old and as long as he stays healthy, any group 1 juvenile race on either side of the Tasman that his trainers, Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, opt to aim him for should be at his mercy.
Lazy Fiver
Britt Ekland ran into third last week for a $2.40 place dividend. Let's build on that with Cool Cobber in tonight's Rowe Cup (race 8) at Alexandra Park.
I've been a fan of this guy since he debuted in late 2011 (even if I backed him that day and he broke), but he's a genuine chance if a) he steps away and b) there is a hot tempo on up front.
