It’s wasn’t just the Easter Bunny that was delivering on Sunday at Collie, with Rockin Rufus kicking his maiden status, giving breeder, owner and trainer Alister Thompson plenty to smile about. Driven by Collie local Trent Wheeler, the three-year-old proved too good for rivals when leading from start to stop in the opener.
Addisyn has continued her winning form, bringing up her third win in just four starts on Sunday at Collie. The Corey Rogers prepared mare won her maiden at Collie just four weeks ago and is yet to be out of the money since.
On March 23 Addisyn started as the $2.15 favourite at Gloucester Park, where she led from Barrier 2 for an all the way victory. From just nine starts this season, she has had three wins, a second and three fourths, bringing up her winnings to $12,247 this season, not including the bonuses that were on offer to this double west bred mare.
Addysin steps it up this week where she will be making the trip up to Gloucester Park on Friday night, to contest in Race 3, the Better Your Bet with TABTouch Fillies and Mares FFA, starting from barrier one.
“She (Addisyn) is rock hard fit and in really good form, but this is a massive rise in grade considering on four or five weeks ago we were chasing our maiden victory. This is her grand final for this preparation, and I think she deserves her chance to see how she will go against Friday night fillies and mares. I’m hoping for a competitive run but regardless of how she goes Friday night, we are proud of her and she has done a huge job this preparation.” Rogers said,
Major Michelle brought up her fourth win with trainer Reece Kaptein since getting the mare in November. Although only a small field, the consistent little mare was able to space her rivals by 11.7 metres after starting off a 30m handicap in the standing start. Kaptein managed to pick the mare up as a giveaway and since then has turned 11 starts in to four wins and four placings this year, taking her earnings to $14,442 just this season.
“No big plans with her, just taking it race by race but would like to win Country Horse of the Year (For Collie, Bridgetown and Williams)”
“She (Major Michelle) has massively exceeded expectations, I thought we could maybe steal one at Busselton and run a couple of places but she has just kept improving.” Kaptein Said.
Being a half-sister to the recently crowned WA two-year-old of the year Mighty Ronaldo, Major Michelle is bred beautifully and is proving to be quite the asset to Kaptein’s small stable.
“It’s a big possibility down the track that we will breed from her, but for now we will just continue to enjoy racing her.” He said.
Sheza Spoilt Miss took out race two for Coolup trainer/driver Dean Miller, returning to the track with winning form after a year between runs.
Tyron Terranova NZ showed exceptional gate speed to lead from barrier five in the third, to record his eighth career win. The Four-year-old trained by David Hunter and driven by Kyle Harper, managed to stay off rivals by 7.7m.
Ignite The Passion continued his bridesmaid form when being defeated by Tyron Terranova NZ on Sunday, with the consistent gelding bringing up his fifth runner up placing in six starts, with the Kevin Edgerton-Green runner being unlucky in both the Bridgetown and Wagin Cups recently. The seasoned professional has had 165 starts for seven wins and 52 placings.
Team Bond and driver Ryan Warwick walked away with a winning double on the day, with Ifeel Sikdarl and Louise The Horse NZ successful in races four and six.
The next meeting from Collie is set for Sunday the 18th of April, the final instalment of their four meetings this season.
