Wednesday 13th Feb 2019

Posted by TRNT

Date posted: 14 Feb 2019

CULZEAN, sporting the famous red, royal blue and green colours of New Zealand training icon Graeme Rogerson, broke through for an overdue win in the Women In Thoroughbred Racing NT Handicap at Fannie Bay yesterday.

Trained by Garry Lefoe Jnr, Culzean’s victory also provided a number of firsts for his winning connections.

After some 90 rides spread over about 18 months, Kim Gladwin finally broke through for his first win in the saddle for his great mate Lefoe, while Culzean was strapped for her first win by Lefoe’s 13yo daughter, Casey.

To top it all off, Gladwin’s parents, Trevor and Marilyn, share in the ownership of the horse with Rogerson.

A delighted Lefoe explained the association with Rogerson: “I have an arrangement with Graeme whereby he sends me a number of horses – I’ve got a handful from him and they all show good ability, including this horse, McIntyre, Grand Teton and Wawrinka, while Hello Gorgeous races in town in Adelaide this week chasing a hat-trick of wins,” he said.

Culzean did a good job to win yesterday, collaring the warm favourite and pacemaker Dark Whirlwind over the concluding stages to win by a length, with Needy Rocket a good third. He also provided Gladwin with the third leg of a winning treble on the day.

Leading trainer Gary Clarke took his lead in the trainer’s premiership to 18 wins courtesy of a treble with Desxiri and Black Haze, both ridden by Gladwin, and Makin’ The Grade (Paul Denton).

Desxiri, after a good third in 0-64 company last time out, dropped back in grade to score by a half-length in the Mantra Handicap.

Gladwin had his mount rolling along in front from the outset and even though appearing to have little left in the tank over the concluding stages, she found enough to repel the late challenge of Quicker Than Slick by a half-length.

Black Haze broke through for his first win when he collared Madame Duporth over the concluding stages of the Allora Gardens Nursery Class 2 Handicap.

The son of Manhattan Rain trailed the pacemaking Madame Duporth, who held a nice advantage rounding the home turn. But it was clear at the 200m mark that the leader was running on empty, and Black Haze went on by to score by two and a-half lengths. Amigo Mio took third.

The race was robbed of a bit of interest when topweight Bon Aire was scratched at the start when refusing to load, and then favourite Our Great Northern was very slowly into stride and never a winning chance.

Makin’ The Grade, sporting the Magic Bloodstock colours made famous by champion mare Winx, was given a lovely front-running ride by Denton in the Hot100 Handicap (1600m).

The 5yo son of I Am Invincible, who could well be aimed at the $40,000 St Patrick’s Cup (1600m) on 16 March, got away with a couple of soft sectionals and kicked strongly in the straight to win by two and a-half lengths from Alitaka, with Rosherville close up third.

My Snip (Phil Cole/Jarrod Todd) gained a well-deserved win after a brace of runner-up finishes when leading throughout in the NT News Handicap, beating Macon Country by three-quarters of a-length.

Race 1 Desxiri.1 Race 1 Desxiri.2 Race 1 Desxiri.3 Race 1 Desxiri