Total Response - Karaka Million bound

The stable has been enjoying a good summer season - still celebrating the stakes winner of Mae Jinx (pictured) and confident that there are more good wins to come!

We saddle up several nice horses in the next couple of days, kicking off with two runners - Madly Bentley and Calypso at the Tauranga meeting on Friday.

An encouraging first up fourth over 1300m at Tauranga on December 14, the well related daughter of Flying Spur has pleased us with her progress since and the extra 100m of the Riding For The Disabled Maiden will prove in her favour.

"She has trained on nicely since her first up run," Chad Ormsby reported, "and hopefully she can break her maiden."

A bargain $50,000 Easter purchase by Paul Moroney, Madly Bently shows racetrack promise and also holds plenty of potential as a broodmare prospect - her dam being a Zabeel half sister to the Gr.1 winner Rewaaya from the family of Snippets, Forensics and Not A Single Doubt.

Our second Tauranga runner Calypso drops back in distance when contesting the Crockford Real Estate but we feel the 1300m is going to suit her better than the mile of the Eulogy Stakes she contested in mid-December.

Also aided by a drop in class, the Pentire filly looks nicely placed - "we think she will prefer this trip," Ormsby said, "and she should prove competitive in this field."

Bred on an interesting 3 X 4 cross of the legendary Mill Reef, Calypso hails from a strong Australasian family whose members include the big race winners The A Train and Calm Harbour.

Our most exciting runner this week is Total Response who takes her place in the Countdown to the Karaka Million over 1200m at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The daughter of Kheleyf ran very nicely in Listed company at debut and we are looking forward to heading to the Karaka Million with her after this run.

"She has been working well," said Ormsby, "and we think she is a good chance in what looks to be a very good field."

At$NZ65,000 another astute purchase by Paul, Total Response is a granddaughter of the American Gr.1 winner Aptostar.

Giovanna Bella also heads to Ellerslie on Saturday and we are looking forward to seeing what she can do at debut.

A half sister by Iffraaj to the multiple Melbourne metropolitan winner Moonloushe, Giovanna Bella is out of a 3/4 sister to the dual Gr.1 winner Love Dance from the family of big race winners Racing To Win, Hula Chief, Herculian Prince and Hula Drum.

"Her work and her trials have been good," Ormsby said, adding that she is well thought of - "she is a nice staying filly with a future."