Ghibellines fillies add to sire’s great season

Lorraine and Brian - owners and breeders of Move On

By Jonny Turner 

The race was only 1000m, but it didn’t stop Move On from showing off her stamina in a powerful debut victory at Riccarton on Saturday.

Move On (Ghibellines-Turn The Page-Danzighill) came down the worst part of a testing Riccarton track to win her first start for trainers Brian and Shane Anderton.

With her racing career underway successfully, Brian Anderton is now looking forward to seeing the filly work towards bigger targets.

“We think she is well above average, she is a good doing filly with a good head on her.”

“She’s got the constitution for racing and being out of Turn The Page, I think she is well named too.”

“Winter isn’t usually the time to be bringing out nice horses like her, but it is good to get her underway.”

“She will be nominated for the Guineas races and we will give her the chance see if she is up to that level.”

“In the meantime, she will just potter away, we won’t turn her out or anything but she will go on the walker and spend some time in the paddock during the day.”

Move On is the fourth winner for her dam Turn The Page, who has also produced Hoist (Raise The Flag), Flickitova (Raise The Flag) and Ranger (Ghibellines).

Ghibellines produced a winning double on Saturday with Caledonie (Ghibellines-Maenoha-Bachelor Duke) cruising to victory at Cambridge.

The three-year-old has shown plenty of promise in a short career for trainer Ralph Manning.

Eye Spy (Ghibellines-Nancy Wake-Personal Escort) also added to Ghibellines’ outstanding results this season with her victory at Timaru this month

The Brian and Shane Anderton trained three-year-old went one better than her debut second at Wingatui when she charged home from off the pace to score.

Eye Spy is another filly Brian Anderton is looking forward to seeing more of.

“She is a pretty smart filly too.”

“We will keep her ticking over, much like Move On.”

“We might look at the Oamaru meeting before the National meeting with her.”

Eye Spy is the ninth winner from broodmare gem Nancy Wake.

The filly looks a big chance of getting over more ground than the 1200m she won over at Timaru considering she’s a half-sister to staying stars Spying On You (Yamanin Vital) and Flying Agent (Raise The Flag).

Ghibellines’ recent results took the White Robe Lodge sire to 10th position on the New Zealand Sires premiership.

With Ghibellines also producing outstanding results in Australia, headed by Group One winner Smokin Romans (Ghibellines-Inferno-Yamanin Vital), the stallion is just over a month away from completing a remarkable 2022-23 season.