Former northerners give Dennis strong hand at Oamaru

[Wandering Eyes]

Ascot Park trainer Robert Dennis will head to Oamaru on Sunday with four leading chances, all of whom began their careers in the North Island.

Dennis will be represented by the formerly Karen Fursdon-trained Vino Valentino in the Female Jockey Tribute Day (2200m), the former Lauren Brennan runner Sir Sterling in the Donna Wilson (1400m), the formerly Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Forseti in the Debbie Henderson (1200m), and the ex-Andrew Forsman runner Magnastar in the Debbie Kennedy (1200m).

Sir Sterling performed to a high level in the north, winning three races and running a luckless sixth – only 1.7 lengths from the winner Maven Belle – in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m). He also contested the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m), Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) and $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m).

Sent south this season by owner-breeder Greg McCarthy, the Iffraaj gelding struck trouble when eighth in his South Island debut on March 28 but has recorded a win and three placings from his four starts since.

“Other than his first run for us, where he kicked out in the barriers before they opened, he’s been very good and hasn’t put a foot wrong,” Dennis said. “He’s very consistent and I’d expect more of the same from him this weekend.

“He’s a robust, hardy gelding who races well and then comes home and immediately licks the feed bin clean. He enjoys his work. His temperament and attitude have improved in the time he’s been with us. I can’t fault him.”

Dennis has been similarly impressed with the three-year-old Magna Grecia gelding Magnastar, who raced against the likes of Lux Libertas, Dealt With and Mustang Morgan in the north.

He emulated Sir Sterling with a struggling southern debut in March, but has bounced back to place in all of his last three appearances.

“He’s another one who’s found a really consistent run of form of late,” Dennis said. “He had his first run for us in that same meeting as Sir Sterling, and he slipped coming out of the barriers. It just took him a bit of time to come right from that. He’s over it now and has been consistent in those last few runs. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how tough he is and how well he’s taking his racing. He’s knocking on the door of a win.”

Vino Valentino was a last-start placegetter in a $40,000 open handicap at Wingatui. The Zacinto mare steps down in class for Sunday’s Rating 75 staying event, but that brings an accompanying weight increase.

“She meets a slightly weaker field this time, but fairly similar,” Dennis said. “Taimate Diva beat us last time and we meet her a couple of kilograms worse off this time around.

“She’s consistent too and I think she can be in or around the first three or four again.”

Sunday will be Forseti’s first start for Dennis. The Lonhro mare’s seven-race career in the north has produced a second, three fourths and a fifth.

“She’s an interesting runner,” Dennis said. “She’s been off the scene for a while, not having raced since last July. She came down to us in March and has settled in and come to hand well.

“She seems fit and forward enough. I was happy with her jumpout a few weeks ago.

“She showed a bit of speed in the north, and this doesn’t look an overly strong field. The question for her is how she’ll handle the heavy track conditions.”

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