LOCAL FILLY DEBUTS IN STYLE AT RUAKAKA

[Chief Stipe]

Annie’s Song extends nicely to make a winning debut at Ruakaka.

Local two-year-old Annie’s Song indicated she could be a filly with a big future after she made a winning debut over 1000m at Ruakaka on Saturday.

The Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley-trained youngster was well supported off the back of a handy performance at the Avondale trials last month and delivered on that promise as she drove clear in the run home to win comfortably by a length and a quarter for rider Craig Grylls.

“She’s going to make a lovely three-year-old, as on what she has done today, she is going to improve,” co-trainer Michelle Bradley said.

“We don’t push our two-year-olds so we will see how she comes through this. She is showing signs that she is growing so we will see how she goes from here.”

Grylls was impressed with the Darci Brahma filly’s performance and predicted she had a good future ahead of her.

“She jumped out quite good and came back to me nicely,” he said.

“When I presented her, she has let down really good. She feels like she has a nice future ahead of her as she has a lovely big action and big stride on her.”

The win would also have been a boost for part-owner Shayne Heape who was missing from the on-course action while recovering in hospital due to a bout of ill health.

Heape, who races the filly with Gary Hannam under their GS Bloodstock banner along with her co-breeder Terry Archer, had been hoping to attend the races today as both an owner and as the representative of the day’s major sponsor, Whangarei ITM.

“We’re hoping that this is a real pick-me-up for Shayne who was desperate to be here but circumstances have meant he couldn’t make it,” said Whangarei Racing General Manger Bill Colgan.

“He is a past-president of the Club and has one hundred guests on-course through Whangarei ITM and their hospitality function so I know he will be gutted he couldn’t make it, especially as Gary (Hannam) is also overseas at the moment.

“We’re hoping he has received a huge thrill from what was a terrific win.”

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