Wellington breeder Reg Caldow is a student of bloodlines.
So the trip south from Wellington to watch Danielle Amore win at Forbury Park last night was pleasing on two fronts.
The first?
Caldow and his wife, Barb, own the 3yr-old trotting filly trained by Phil Williamson.
But more importantly, it vindicates his decision to buy Danielle Amore's dam, Danielle Daunou, at the Melbourne yearling sales seven years ago.
Caldow briefly placed the daughter of Yankee Paco with a trainer, but the intention was always to breed from her.
Danielle Amore is the first foal from Danielle Daunou, but Caldow has tried different stallions since.
Rue Daunou is a 2yr-old by former top Canadian juvenile trotter Federal Flex and the Caldows now have a yearling filly by Repeat Love.
After missing in the 2015 breeding season, Danielle Daunou was last served by Peak, who won the Danish Derby before winning the 2013 New Zealand Trotting Free-for-all for Tim Butt.
Caldow is off to Auckland today to watch his juvenile pacer, Star Galleria, at Alexandra Park.
The son of Art Major is out of Starlitnight, a half-sister to outstanding pacers Stars And Stripes and Light And Sound.
At the other end of the equine age spectrum, a late-career move has worked for two of Oamaru trainer Eion Latimer's pacers after Motu Speedy Star's win in the claimers and 5yr-old and older mobile pace.
Latimer tried racing Jasper Blue Jeans without hopples late in his 230-start career and turned to the same trick four starts ago with Motu Speedy Star, who marked his 190th start with a win.
"The Village Jaspers seem to go super without them,'' Latimer said.
Latimer said the 11yr-old "does nothing but pace'' around the training track.
Washingtons Chance has become familiar with a variety of training tracks and trainers in his 23 starts.
His first seven starts were for Alex Milne at Edendale, before a short stint at Westwood Beach with Jonny Cox and Amber Hoffman in late 2014 and early 2015.
"The owners got him back and thought they'd try him for half a dozen starts and see where he's at,'' trainer-driver Robin Swain said.
Swain first lined up the son of Washington VC at Forbury Park on March 24, and expected a win would come at some point.
"He's always showed a bit of promise, but he just had to get the right type of run,'' Swain said.
"He's not very tough but he's got a bit of speed and he got the ideal run.''
The Jinja Ninja lived up to her name in the c2 and faster trot, although maybe Nathan Williamson should take the credit for his sectionals theft earlier in the race.
Williamson got to the front quickly from the 10m mark, and slowed the pace to a crawl.
The 5yr-old trotted the first 800m of the last mile (1600m) in a very sedate 67.8sec, and even the split between the 800m and 400m was barely quicker at 32.8sec, allowing Williamson to let the mare trot boldly over the last 400m in 27sec.
Last night's win is the fourth for the Sundon mare's connections, who include Sheree Black, the wife of trainer Alister Black, along with Ian and Lindsay Thomson, Peter Duggan and Craig Milne.
