Ellerton and Zahra have Flair
April 2nd 2010 00:14
The partnership of Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra will be on tenterhooks this weekend as their brilliant 2 year old filly Crystal Lily lines up on Saturday in the $A3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes at Group One - run over 1200 metres at Rosehill. Unfortunately the traditional Easter deluge in Sydney means that this racemeeting will be run on a slow track - at best.
(photo: Neil Murray) click image for enlargement
Although Matthew Ellerton has previously had great success in feature Group Races since starting as a trainer in 1998, this partnership of friends (and cousins) that began officially in May of 2009 would have its greatest possible success if their brilliant filly can capture the glory and prize that is The Golden Slipper Stakes.
Matthew Ellerton's list of previous Group Winners includes:
Miss Kournikova; Lady Of The Desert; Black Bean; Spectatorial; Paint; Casual Pass; Bellini Rose; She Will Be Loved; Foreplay; Nediym’s Glow; Speedy Rossa; and Sunburnt Land. Simon Zahra in his own right obtained a trainer’s licence in 2008 and had great success with Let Go Thommo - winning the Group Two Carlyon Stakes in the same year, and the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes in 2009.
But it is not only the stars of a stable that attest to the proficiency and skills of those involved in the process, but also the ‘bread and butter’ horses that battle in the lesser grades. Last week at Caulfield Ellerton and Zahra produce their resilient and consistent 4 year old Testa Rossa mare, Red Flair, for her 13th run of a 9 month campaign. She was successful in the $70,000 Winning Edge Presentations Handicap over 1600 metres - ridden by 3kg claiming apprentice Jordan Mallyon and winning by 2 lengths. This was only the 2nd win of the campaign (of 5 wins in career total to date) - but she has been placed on 6 other occasions and rarely far from the placegetters when unplaced. Red Flair is a Group Three placed mare who has a 19% winning record - and 35% placed record - from her (to date) 26 career starts, with earnings of $253,364.
Red Flair winning easily at Caulfield with Jordan Mallyon riding
(photo: Neil Murray) click image for enlargement
Although Matthew Ellerton has previously had great success in feature Group Races since starting as a trainer in 1998, this partnership of friends (and cousins) that began officially in May of 2009 would have its greatest possible success if their brilliant filly can capture the glory and prize that is The Golden Slipper Stakes.
Matthew Ellerton's list of previous Group Winners includes:
Miss Kournikova; Lady Of The Desert; Black Bean; Spectatorial; Paint; Casual Pass; Bellini Rose; She Will Be Loved; Foreplay; Nediym’s Glow; Speedy Rossa; and Sunburnt Land. Simon Zahra in his own right obtained a trainer’s licence in 2008 and had great success with Let Go Thommo - winning the Group Two Carlyon Stakes in the same year, and the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes in 2009.
But it is not only the stars of a stable that attest to the proficiency and skills of those involved in the process, but also the ‘bread and butter’ horses that battle in the lesser grades. Last week at Caulfield Ellerton and Zahra produce their resilient and consistent 4 year old Testa Rossa mare, Red Flair, for her 13th run of a 9 month campaign. She was successful in the $70,000 Winning Edge Presentations Handicap over 1600 metres - ridden by 3kg claiming apprentice Jordan Mallyon and winning by 2 lengths. This was only the 2nd win of the campaign (of 5 wins in career total to date) - but she has been placed on 6 other occasions and rarely far from the placegetters when unplaced. Red Flair is a Group Three placed mare who has a 19% winning record - and 35% placed record - from her (to date) 26 career starts, with earnings of $253,364.
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