Telfers bag five in Alexandra Park first

By Michael Guerin

Pride was the overwhelming feeling for trainer Steve Telfer at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

Pride in his stable and staff after he trained five winners in a night at his home track for the first time in his career.

Pride in his horses, some old and some new, for what they were able to do in very different ways.

And even pride in his young stable junior driver Kristina Denifostova for her brave drive that helped Fernleigh Cash win the main race of the night, the Classique Landscapers Handicap Pace.

Telfer, who trains with sister Amanda, produced not only Fernleigh Cash to lead throughout in the standing start handicap feature but exciting juveniles Bar Louie and Infamee to hard-fought wins, Upstage to step up in grade and make it a back to back victories while Seaside Rose returned with a 1:54.9 mile rate win.

Four of those winners were handled by stable driver Joshua Dickie who has been such a huge part of Telfer’s northern success since returning home from Australia eight months ago.

“I think Mandy might have had a few four win bags down south but we definitely haven’t had a five win night at The Park before,” explained Telfer.

“It is very satisfying and a lot of hard work from the whole team goes into that.”

Fernleigh Cash earned his win the hard way, starting off a 10m handicap and working to the lead before young Russian-raised driver Denifostova had to deny favourite Artisan the lead in a heated early speed fuel, no small feat for a junior driver being attacked by a superstar reinsman in Zachary Butcher.

“That is how we wanted him driven and Kristina was brave enough to stick to the plan,” says Telfer.

Fernleigh Cash suggested this time last year he could be a New Zealand Cup horse and he will be among the Team Telfer entries for the great race this season.

“At the moment he is on the outside looking but we will give him his chance in a few of the open class races up here and see if that changes.”

Bar Louie showed the benefit of having a boring pole added to his gear to make it three wins from four starts in the Purdon and Phelan Racing Supporting the NZHAT 2YO Mobile Pace. He rated 1:54.2 for the 1700m, home in 55.7 seconds and he is clearly a player in the northern Sires’ Stakes heats.

He will be joined in those by Infamee, who held on to beat an equally talented The Night Agent in their maiden pace, the NZTDA - Northern branch - Here for the Horse Mobile Pace. The leaders paced 56.2 seconds for the last 800m.

Infamee is out of the wonderful filly Sweet On Me, the Jewels winner of her juvenile season who never raced past two after looking every inch a chip of the old block, all-time great mare Adore Me.

“He is bred to be good this horse and he is,” says Telfer.

“He is with you, he is intelligent and we really rate him.”

Seaside Rose may get her chance at a Queen Of Hearts come December after winning the Obex Medical Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace while Upstage overcame an early bobble to win again in the Lincoln Farms Supporting the NZHAT Mobile Pace.

“I said last time he won he would keep getting better and I think he will end up a really nice intermediate pacer.”

While Team Telfer were stunning on Friday it was also a rare Alexandra Park double for trainer Ival Brownlee with his little trotting mares Brienne and Emily Bay, both grand-daughters of Cheese And Kisses, the seven-win mare who was one of Brownlee’s ever horses. They won the Border Fencing Service - Northern Metro Heat 2 Handicap Trot and the NI Standardbred Assn Supporting Life After Racing Handicap Trot.

There was also plenty to like about the way Pantani made it three wins on end for trainer Ross Paynter in the opening race, the Kelato Animal Health - Northern Metro Handicap Trot. .

Pantani overcame a 10m handicap to trot 2:46.5 for the 2200m with his last 800m in 57.4 seconds and he looks a three-year-old with a serious motor.