Live Drama shows class in Stewards Trial

Live Drama in action

By Jonny Turner 

Class shone through when outstanding Ghibellines mare Live Drama won the Stewards Handicap Trial at Ashburton on Saturday.

Live Drama (Ghibellines-Sheeza Drama-Pure Theatre) charged down the outer of the Ashburton track to score a big win which announced she is on track for a strong New Zealand Cup Carnival.

The 1200m victory was the eighth of the outstanding White Robe Lodge born and bred mare’s career.

“We were really happy with her, she went really well,” trainer Lance Robinson said.

Live Drama was badly hampered by a riderless horse in her first outing of the season at Riccarton.

Robinson then gave the mare an exhibition gallop at Timaru to ready her for her excellent performance at Ashburton for rider Megan Taylor.

Saturday’s win took Live Drama’s earnings just short of $200,000 which makes her $8500 purchase price at the 2018 South Island Sale look an absolute bargain.

Just prior to Live Drama’s win, Redmond (Ghibellines-Ruby Red-Dehere) added black-type to his record with his second placing in the Group Three Barnswood Farm Stakes.

The three-year-old worked to the line strongly suggesting he is ready to step up to 1600m in the Group One Two Thousand Guineas.

Earlier on the Ashburton card, Noble Knight (Ghibellines-Flight Arrival-Yamanin Vital) registered the second win of his career with a strong effort over 2200m.

The five-year-old charged home from well back in the pack to score for trainer Sandy Cunningham.

Noble Knight was bred by Wayne and Karen Stewart and he was sold to his trainer at the 2019 South Island Sale for $22,500.

Several members of the Brian and Shane Anderton stable had important hit-outs at the Wingatui Jumpouts last week.

Rosy Clark showed she was ready to start her new campaign when running to a nice win over 1000m.

“She went very well, she won’t race this week, she will go to Gore instead,” Brian Anderton said.

Capo Dell Impero and Ru Brader also pleased their trainers with their efforts in the same heat.

Burgie, Phyllite and Giveherago also impressed producing strong performances in another 1000m open heat.

Those five horses are all likely to head to Wingatui on Melbourne Cup Day, Brian Anderton said.

The Anderton stable also gave a Ghibellines filly from Antariya and a Ghibellines filly from Ortem Fire public trials at the jumpouts on Tuesday.

Both horses pleased their trainers with their efforts.