Carston racing pair salute at Ashburton
- Picket Fence
- 1 minute ago
- 2 min read
Riccarton-based trainer Andrew Carston had a successful day out at Ashburton on Thursday, with two winners, Taimate Staar and Master Brutus.
A new addition to the stable, Master Brutus benefited from a perfectly timed ride from Kylie Williams to score by a short half-head over Texas Dolly in the Agraforum Growing Innovation (1200m).
“I’ve only had him for three weeks,” said Carston. “He came straight down after his last race at Ōtaki and he arrived in great order so I have to give credit to his previous trainers, Hanna Orting and Sophia Nolan.
“I was very excited when I got the call to say he was coming down to me. He’s a pretty handy horse, he showed a lot as a three-year-old, and he has placed behind some nice horses.
“He’s owned by Graeme Allen and Diane Jensen, who also own Maybe Diva. They thought he would be better placed in an open handicap down here, so that’s why they sent him down here.
“They were on course too, they’re outstanding, they always make the effort to come down and watch their horses.”
Allen and Jensen, who are based in Dargaville, also bred the six-year-old son of Swiss Ace from their Redwood mare Red Flag.
He has now won two and placed in 10 races from 18 starts earning over $115,000.
Carston said he had immediate plans in mind for the flashy chestnut.
“I just wanted to get through yesterday, so we will see how he comes through it and then we’ll make some plans, but it was a very pleasing result,” he said.
Allen and Jensen’s other runner in the Carston team, Maybe Diva, also gave them a thrill on Thursday, finishing second by just a neck in the Betty Chan Wadley Memorial (1400m).
“She’s above average,” Carston said. “She’s a pretty handy horse, she didn’t have much luck yesterday, but she hit the line strong.”
Another loyal supporter of Carston Racing, Taimate Equine, was rewarded in the Hygain Stayers Challenge maiden over 2200m, with Taimate Staar getting a long overdue win.
“I was surprised that it took 17 starts for her to win a race,” Carston said. “She’s been a late maturing mare, but she’s away now, so hopefully she can go on with it from here.
“It was a good result for everyone, Bruno (Queiroz) rode her well and it’s just great that she’s broken maiden ranks now.”
Carston said that she and her half-sister Taimate Diva would possibly head to Riverton over Easter.
Hard Attack was another runner to place for the stable, finishing second in the Agraforum Comcat (1200m).
“She is going to win a race somewhere shortly,” Carston said. “She’s put together a couple of nice runs now.”“I had a couple of unlucky maidens yesterday too; it was a pretty good day overall and the team is ticking along nicely.”
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