SAFFRON LADY SCORES AT PUKEKOHE

Extending a solid track record, Saffron Lady (5 m Iffraaj – Colourfast, by Pentire) benefitted from a well judged ride to snatch victory in the $25,000 Lone Star Rating 75 1600 metres on Saturday at Pukekohe.

A course winner on slow footing and placed on dead, Saffron Lady coped with heavy going, as co-trainer Pam Gerard thought she might, and rider Jake Bayliss executed his task with victory by a nose.

“She wasn’t beaten far in a stronger field here last time, after closing well for second at Avondale, and with three runs under her belt she’s pretty fit now,” Gerard said.

“She’s a lovely mare, maturing all the time and she comes right into it when the tracks get wet. She has handled heavy going previously, doesn’t mind anywhere from Dead6 to Heavy10 and winning three races now and finishing second six times just shows how consistent she is.”

Ridden patiently from barrier 10, settling second last in a field of 11 on a solid pace, Bayliss had Saffron Lady coursing wide from the 800m and once angled clear at the 400m she sustained a big finish to claim third favourite Big Mike (Don Eduardo) at the post.

“Jake (Bayliss) had no choice but to go back from the wide draw, but that style suits her best anyway and he did a good job to get up on the line,” Gerard said.

Running 1:41.2, last 600m in 37.6, on Heavy10 going for the 1600 metres, Saffron Lady returned NZ TAB fixed odds of $12.00 & $3.50 and $11.30 & $3.30 on the tote.

Selected as a yearling by Paul Moroney and purchased for $27,500 at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, from the draft of Kilgravin Lodge, Saffron Lady sports great southern mare Covered N’ Grey, winner of 24 races, as her second dam, and she is owned by Barry & Deirdre Neville-White (racing in their black, white & red colours), Jo Wills, Richard & David Sims, Paul Magill, Georgina Workman, and Ballymore Stables NZ.

The win also provided Denny Moroney, father to Mike and Paul, with a special thrill on his 89th birthday. An integral part of the Ballymore team at track work each morning and on hand race day, Denny and his wife, Mary, celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary (60th) in 2015 and recently became great-grandparents.

Saffron Lady was strapped by Scott Magee.

Last start winner Kane (Darci Brahma) appeared a live chance in the last race on the programme ($22,500 Rating 65 1600 metres) and after attempting to emulate her last to first winning performance at Avondale, she was beaten in a head bobbing finish for third under rider Jake Bayliss.

The stable also produced three-year-old filly Za Za Gabor (O’Reilly) in the $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m) on Saturday at Riccarton. Given a lovely trip by Terry Moseley, Za Za Gabor was beaten a nose by Courte Zarindi (Any Suggestion). A resultant enquiry, after the pair bumped a couple of times in the straight, appeared very much 50-50 before being dismissed by Stewards and positions stood as they passed the post.