Photo: NZTBA
Two NZB Insurance Pearl Series bonuses have been struck in the past week.
On Saturday Far Site (Makfi x Perfect Vision) bounced back into winning form taking out the Rating 65 1400m event at Trentham.
The Peter Didham-trained four-year-old mare had travelled mid-field before jockey Callum Jones started to move around the field coming into the turn.
On hitting the straight he moved to the outside of the track with Far Site working hard to pass her rivals before knuckling down to fight it out with Estefania in the last 50m, prevailing by a nose to get the win.
On Wednesday Penny Jane (Jimmy Choux x Starguru) posted her long-awaited maiden victory at Cambridge in the Fillies and Mares Maiden (1550m) picking up the pearl bonus for her connections.
Ridden by Hazel Schofer, Penny Jane settled at the rear of the field with Schofer sticking to the rail for the early stages of the race. Coming out of the turn Schofer moved out, pushing through a gap with Penny Jane running on strongly to win by a short neck over La Diva and Dark Satin.
Trainer Scott Wenn was thrilled with the effort, especially as Penny Jane was a regular contender in Pearl Series races.
"She really deserved it,” he said. “She has been putting in a hundred percent every start, especially on the synthetic here at Cambridge.
“It is a wonderful scheme when you get the win, we have been trying for a few so it was nice for her to crack one.
“The races fit in really nicely for her, especially when they are on the synthetic track which she likes. We have looked towards them for most of her racing career so far.”
Penny Jane was bred by Hawke’s Bay couple Gordon and Jane Thomas-Long who race her in partnership with Anne Groufsky, Brian Long and Peter Buckingham.
NZB Insurance Pearl Series nominations for fillies born in 2019 close on July 31 with a fee of $1,380 (including GST).
You can enter your filly by clicking HERE
