Frizzante raced by breeders Grainger Bloodstock and Rankin Bloodstock Limited, was having her third start. She is trained by Cran Dalgety.
Frizzante is by Falcon Seelster and the first foal of Miss Bubbles, the winner of nine races for the same owners. Miss Bubbles won the 2005 Raith Memorial at Harold Park as a 3yr-old when trained by Ken Barron.
Frizzante was taken to the front at the 1100m yesterday by driver Dexter Dunn and won by half a length in a 1.58.7 mile rate for the 1700m.
• Kamwood Laughter set a mile track record for a mare of 1.56.9. The 4yr-old owned by Trish Dunell, of Auckland and trained by Gavin Smith, lowered the mark of 1.57.4 set by Eastwood Aurora at the 2009 Tuapeka meeting. The track record for all genders is 1.56.1 set by Likmesiah as a 3yr-old in 2003.
• The 3yr-old Dream Defence won a maiden trot. He is a half-brother by Dream Vacation to the New Zealand Trotting Oaks winner, Commander Jewel trained by Jamie Gameson, the co-owner with his wife, Natalie, Murray and Glenda Williamson, of Timaru, John Gould, of Blenheim, and Kevin Cahill, of Timaru.
Dream Defence was bought by Invercargill breeder, Don McRae, after being passed in for $12,000 at the premier yearling sale.
• Sachin Arden, a $13,000 purchase at the Ready To Run sale last year, cleared maiden ranks yesterday. He is raced by trainer Brad Mowbray and Ernie Knight, of Christchurch.
Mowbray has Balishka resuming at Ashburton today. She is considered to be in much better shape this season. Balishka has won seven races, including miles in 1.56 and 1.57 at Ashburton.
• River Black justified his warm favouritism for the Tuapeka Cup when he led over the last 1300m.
It was the eighth win in 20 starts for River Black, owned by Christchurch brothers Ron and Colin Bennett and trained by Dean Taylor. River Black went off stride momentarily at the 2800m when he hung in and again at the 2400m. Taylor said he would add a boring pole to his gear.
The Gigolo, who had not raced for 12 months, ran an encouraging third. His racing has been restricted to four starts over the past three and a-half years. Trainer Margot Nyhan turned him out on hill country to recover from suspensory ligament injuries to both front legs and a hind leg.
There was a large crowd for the 50th jubilee meeting of the Tuapeka Trotting Club with course betting almost the same with one less race than last year.
