Smiling Star, winner of the Sires' Stakes heat for 3yr-olds at Forbury Park last Thursday, will head to Winton on Sunday for a 1w $9000 race against older horses.
"He is going to Winton in quest of points for the Southern Supremacy series. He will take a penalty from his next win and it will be that much harder finding a suitable race after that," Carla Robertson, wife of Smiling Star's trainer, Robbie Holmes, said.
Smiling Star is unbeaten in two starts.
Crystal County, a trial winner at Rangiora yesterday, will accompany Smiling Star to Winton. She is in the care of the Holmes stable.
• Franco Emirate has been withdrawn for the New Zealand Cup on November 9 due to his aversion to standing starts. He has tangled at the start of both his races this season. He staged a big run for fifth in the Methven Cup on Sunday.
"It is too tough on him from standing starts and I will keep him to mobiles," Jim Curtin, his trainer, said. The next race for Franco Emirate is a free-for-all at Addington on NZ Cup day.
• Trainers Mark Purdon and Grant Payne won trials at Rangiora yesterday with Major Mark, I Can Doosit and unraced 3yr-olds Smolda, Mark Dennis and Highview Teejay.
Mark Dennis, who rated 1.59.4 for 2000m (mobile), is an acceptor at Addington on Friday night.
The Bettor's Delight gelding qualified behind Smolda at Ashburton in August.
I Can Doosit, winner of the Interdominion Trotting Final and Rowe Cup last season, gave away starts of up to 40m and won his heat by a neck.
• Pay Me Christian, the 9yr-old entire who has not raced since February, 2009, is an acceptor for the Canterbury Classic on Friday.
Now trained by Steven McRae, Pay Me Christian ran third to Anvils Best Ever and Beaudiene Christian after starting from 60m in a workout at Motukarara on Saturday. His 25 starts have been from a mobile start for 12 wins.
He was brought back into work during the winter after showing low fertility as a sire at Nevele R Stud, who paid $500,000 for a half share in the son of Christian Cullen after he won the Sires' Stakes Final as a 3yr-old in 2005.
He won the 2006 Newcastle Mile in 1.52.8, a then record for Australia and New Zealand. He has left 27 foals from 60 mares covered in two seasons.
• Smoken Up is a $3.50 favourite with the TAB for the NZ Cup.
Unbeaten in four starts this season, he has his next start in the Gold Coast Cup on Saturday night. He began the journey by road from Victoria yesterday.
Washakie won the listed Be Good Johnny Sprint at Albion Park last Saturday night. The 8yr-old rated 1.52.5 for the 1660m (mobile).
• Results of trials yesterday.-
Rangiora Weather, fine; track, fast.
Qualifying test, trotters, 2600m (first heat): Ten Too M Smolenski 1; Miss Coco 2; Daytona Beach 3. Seven started. 14L, 1L. Time, 3.29.8 (four qualified). Trainer, M Smolenski.
Second heat: Kowhai Whiz S Golding 1; Bobby Breen 2; Lucie De Gerolstein 3. Seven started. Nse, 17L. Time, 3.34.8 (four qualified). Trainers, P and L Jones.
Qualifying test, pacers, 2600m: The Bird Has Flown T Chmiel 1; Koau Ace 2; Raffa 3. Nine started. 2L, 4L. Time, 3.26.5 (eight qualified). Trainers, T and G Chmiel.
Qualifying test, pacers, mobile, 2000m: American Sweetheart D Dunn 1; Highway To Hell 2; The Vestal Virgin 3. Six started. 8L, nk. Time, 2.33.9 (three qualified). Trainer, C Dalgety.
0w pacers, mobile, 2000m (first heat): Mark Dennis B Orange 1; Frizzante 2; Pemberton Shard 3. Seven started. 1L, 7L. Time, 2.28.5. Trainers, M Purdon and G Payne.
Second heat: Crystal County R Holmes 1; The Perfect Storm 2; Franco Revel 3. Seven started. 2L, 11L. Time, 2.33. Trainers, P and M O'Brien.
Third heat: Highview Teejay B Orange 1; Pennsylvania 2; Hurricane Bromac 3. Seven started. 2L, 2L. Time, 2.33.6. Trainers, M Purdon and G Payne.
1-3w pacers, mobile, 2000m: Mister Presley D Butt 1; Hokonui Ben 2; Matt Maguire 3. Six started. L, nk. Time, 2.29.7. Trainers, D and C Butt.
4w+ pacers, mobile, 2000m: Donegal Delight D Dunn 1; Balishka 2; Hip Hop Anvil 3. Five started. 1L, 1L. Time, 2.31.6. Trainer, C Dalgety.
0w pacers, 2000m: Smolda J Hornbrook 1; Chianti 2; Katie Babe 3. Five started. 1L, 9L. Time, 2.36.7. Trainers, M Purdon and G Payne.
1w pacers, 2000m: Falcon Crown T Williams 1; Mr Murdoch 2; Billy Slater 3.Nine started. 2L, 12L. Time, 2.32.9. Trainer, R Dunn.
0w trotters, 2600m: Classy Boyz R Holmes 1; Ignite 2; Sunnyandcher 3. Eight started. 1L, 3L. Time, 3.37. Trainer, M Boa.
0w pacers, 2600m: Su El L McCormick 1; Me Old Mate 2; Magical Mario 3. Six started. 1L, nse. Time, 3.36. Trainer, M Stevens.
1w+ trotters, 2600m: I Can Doosit 40 M Purdon 1; Real Deal Yankee 30 2; With Intent 20 3. Ten started. Nk, 3L. Time, 3.25.5. Trainers, M Purdon and G Payne.
2w+ pacers, 2600m: Major Mark 40 M Purdon 1; Arnoux 20 2; Kotare Mach 40 3. Nine started. Hd, nk. Time, 3.24.7. Trainers, M Purdon and G Payne.
Forbury ParkWeather, fine; track, fast.
Two-year-old trotters, mobile, 1700m: Speedy Success A Malcolmson 1; Eye To Eye 2. Two started. L. Time, 2.20.9. Trainer, A Clark.Qualifying test, trotters, 2200m: Waitoto Express D Simpson 1; Earl Mountbatten 2; Jack Rabbit Slim 3. Three started. 2L, dist. Time, 3.02.4.1 (two qualified). Trainer, S Campbell.
0w pacers, mobile, 2200m: Pino Gris D Simpson 1; Maddemmas Jewel 2; Sambuca 3. Four started. 3L, 4L. Time, 2.56.5. Trainer, D Simpson.
0w trotters, 2200m: Forrest Heights A Malcolmson 1; The Pearl Of Paris 2; Whendaboysliteup 3. Five started. 3L, nse. Time, 3.00.2. Trainer, E Lamb.
1w+ pacers, 2200m: El Nino A Faulks 1; Notenuffinmypocket 2; Reacher 3. Three started. L, 3L. Time, 3.05.5. Trainer, C Buchan.
0w pacers, mobile, 2200m: Riviera Franco D Trainer 1; Lochlea 2; Rapid Aveross 3. Three started. 9L, 12L. Time, 2.52.3. Trainer, D Trainor.
1w+ trotters, 2200m: The Fiery Ginga 30 A Clark 1; Iona Eyre 2; Mum Beat Lyall 10 3. Four started. 1L, 12L. Time, 3.00.9. Trainer, A Clark.
