By Duane Ranger
Trainer/Driver Maurice McKendry MNZM and owner Gerald Shand continued their prosperous association at Cambridge Raceway on Sunday.
The combination was represented by two maiden winning three-year-olds on the card, both carrying the recognisable Shan name, Shanway and Shandance.
“Both three-year-olds won well yesterday,” said Pukekohe-based McKendry.
Shandance is a sister of Shandale, who was also trained by McKendry. He finished third behind Lazarus and Classie Brigade in the 2016 Gr.1 New Zealand Derby, before being sold to Western Australia where he is now a Group Two winner.
“Shandance did win well and did it pretty easy yesterday but at this stage of her career isn’t in the same class as Shandale,” said McKendry.
“She’s quite a nice racehorse but she gets a bit shy come raceday. She’s also had a few tie-up problems, but I’m sure she will get better with age.”
Stablemate Shanway justified his pre-race favoritism in the $8,000 IRT Maiden Pace in which he led all the way to claim his maiden victory, at just his third start.
“He held on well in the straight and like his stablemate he will be improved by the run. He just needs more raceday experience and he will get that with more racing at both Cambridge and Alexandra Park,” McKendry said.
McKendry has now trained 118 winners ($1,089,973) since 1983 and is second only to Tony Herlihy (3449) in races won in the sulky, on 3,214 wins.
"I still love what I do. In fact, I enjoy it a lot but I think 4,000 career wins will be slightly beyond me," McKendry said.
It seemed you had to have post-nominal letters behind your name if you were to win at Cambridge Raceway on Saturday. Fellow member of the New Zealand Order of Merit Tony Herlihy MNZM, was also successful and the remaining seven events were won by junior (j) drivers.
Condensed results from Sunday’s Waikato-BOP meeting at Cambridge Raceway were:
Race 1: The Dave & Clare McGowan (Pukekohe) trained PHOEBE GEM(5 b m Monarchy - Ashley Sunset (by Sundon) Nate Delany (j).
Race 2: The Maurice McKendry MNZM (Pukekohe) trained and driven SHANDANCE (3 b f Art Major-Delightful Dale (by Bettor's Delight).
Race 3: The Tony Herlihy MNZM (Ardmore) trained ULTIMATE ANGEL (4 b m Bettor's Delight-Cullens Katching (by Christian Cullen) Tony Cameron (j).
Race 4: The Maurice McKendry MNZM (Pukekohe) trained and driven SHANDANCE (3 b g Bettor's Delight-Grace Way (by Dream Away).
Race 5: The Warren Taylor (Morrinsville) trained SIR HENRY CASTLETON (2011 6 b g Monarchy - Castleton Gold (by Evander's Gold) Alicia Harrison (j).
Race 6: The Steve Telfer (Ardmore) trained ARDENT LUSTRE (2012 5 bl g Falcon Seelster - Holmes Lustre (by Holmes Hanover) Benjamin Butcher (j).
Race 7: The Tony Herlihy MNZM (Ardmore) trained and diven GOLD ORCHID (2014 3 b f Bettor's Delight - Honey Rose Falcon (by Christian Cullen).
Race 8: The Steve Telfer (Ardmore) trained STEP UP (2013 4 b m Art Major - Dance Card (by Albert Albert). Benjamin Butcher (j).
Race 9: The Ross Paynter (Cambridge) trained MONSEIGNEUR (2010 7 B g Sundon - Duchess Of Whiz (by Gee Whiz II) Fergus Schumacher (j).
Race 10: The Tim Vince (Kumeu) trained THE PERSUADER (2010 7 B g Christian Cullen - Fancy Jaccka (by Holmes Hanover) Jack Mackinnon (j).
SUMMARY:
Top Stallion: Bettor’s Delight 3 wins.
Top Junior Driver: Benjamin Butcher (Cambridge) 2 wins.
Top Driver: Maurice McKendry MNZM (Pukekohe) and Benjamin Butcher (Cambridge) 2 wins apiece.
Top Trainer: Maurice McKendry MNZM (Pukekohe) and Steve Telfer (Ardmore) 2 wins each.
Extensive results can be viewed here.
