Promising Southern mare Madam Dubai has given the extended Anderton family something to celebrate over recent months, and she will aim for a hat-trick of victories at Ascot Park on Saturday.
The daughter of Pride Of Dubai commenced her career in Australia under the care of Philip Stokes, recording a win on debut and one further minor placing from six starts before being purchased on an Inglis Online Auction by Jack Stewart.
Stewart plays a key role in the running of his grandfather and late grandmother, Brian and Lorraine Anderton’s White Robe Lodge, and identified Madam Dubai as an exciting racing and broodmare prospect, with her dam being a A$500,000 Inglis 2YO Classic (1200m) winner in Danehill Smile.
Stewart, alongside wife Emma, combined with parents and Stud Managers Wayne and Karen Stewart in the ownership of the mare, and have been well rewarded, winning two of her three starts on Kiwi soil.
Stepping up over the mile on Saturday, Madam Dubai will contest the Nigel Robertson Building Handicap (1600m), with Kylie Williams retaining the ride after guiding the four-year-old in her last two victories, including last start at their home track on November 7.
“She’s going well, she’s bred to be a sprinter but she took the whole 1400m at Wingatui to get to the front,” said Shane Anderton, who trains in partnership with his father Brian.
“We scratched her at Cromwell because of the barrier draw she got. We’ve got no excuses this time (drawing barrier two) so hopefully she’ll be competitive.”
Madam Dubai is currently rated a $4.50 favourite with TAB bookmakers for the Racing 75 event, while stablemate Burgie sits atop of the feature event on the card at $3.20 for the Tim Yeo Contracting Southland Crystals (2200m).
A winner of the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) as a three-year-old, Burgie has recorded three wins and a further six minor placings in a successful 19-start career.
The five-year-old daughter of Ghibellines was a creditable fourth in the Cromwell Cup (2030m) last-start, with Corey Campbell taking the ride on Saturday after claiming the Cup aboard classy stablemate Capo Dell Impero.
“We were happy enough at Cromwell, but she’s just being a mare in taking a wee while to come up this year. We’re expecting a nice run from her,” Anderton said.
“You do always need a bit of luck around the Invercargill track though.”
Also flying the flag for White Robe Lodge’s sire Ghibellines will be Exchange, the six-win gelding completing the Anderton trio at Ascot Park when contesting the Shoe Clinic Handicap (1400m).
Coming off an eighth-placed resuming run at Cromwell, four-kilo claiming apprentice Ruvanesh Muniandy will retain the ride giving weight relief to 56kg.
“He’s probably looking for a wee bit further, he was slow out last time so if he can get out and put himself into the race he should be a good chance,” Anderton said. “He was going to be carrying 60kg, so getting the four kilograms off puts him at quite a competitive weight.”
