Talented two-year-old filly Folk Dress made it back-to-back wins on her home track when successful in the Matamata Glass & Joinery (1000m) on Wednesday.

 

Ridden by Craig Grylls, Folk Dress sat just forward of mid-field and rounded her rivals up comfortably. 

 

Trainer Jamie Richards said Folk Dress and stablemate Louis Luck, who closed well for fifth, would head towards the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1100m) at Te Rapa on May 4. 

 

“Good draws win races and Craig got the split at the top of the straight and she went home nicely,” Richards said. 

 

“We have been trying to concentrate on getting her back and finishing off and she is doing that well.”

 

Richards said the addition of blinkers also aided the Coolmore-owned Pierro filly. 

 

The Matamata horseman was also positive regarding the future prospects of Louis Luck. 

 

“He just got on one rein and is still learning, but he is a progressive horse and if he can draw a gate at Te Rapa, he is a big chance,” Richards said.

 

Richards also saddled three-year-old gelding Willpower to break maiden ranks in the BDO Rotorua (1200m). 

 

 

 

Stakes producing stallion Highly Recommended will return to Berkley Stud in Canterbury for the upcoming breeding season.

 

Following discussions between Berkley and Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre it was felt that the Fastnet Rock stallion would get a better opportunity in the region where most of his success has occurred.

 

Highly Recommended was a very successful second season sire in 2017/2018, producing stakes horses Sumstreetsumwhere, Waldorf, Joyfilly, Beneficial, Pipiana and Kirkland.

 

He continues to produce competitive racehorses with fillies like Greenpark Gem and Picture Me Rollin.

 

“Highly Recommended was very well supported in his initial years at stud at Berkley and we are hoping that support will be there when he returns," Plumptre said.

 

“He gets good looking sound stock and has plenty of representation coming through. 

 

“Cambridge Stud will continue to support him and we look forward to a successful partnership with Berkley and our breeding right owners.”

 

His 2019 fee has been set at $5,000+GST.

 

 

 

Windsor Park Stud shuttle stallion Charm Spirit was provided with his third stakes winner when Qatar Racing’s three-year-old colt Kick On lead throughout to land the Listed Feilden Stakes (1800m) at Newmarket, in the United Kingdom.

 

A course maiden winner over a mile at two, the John Gosden-trained colt built on his sixth-place finish in the Gr.1 Vertem Futurity Trophy (1600m) at Doncaster in October to hold off a sustained surge from Walkinthesand by a neck, with that pair pulling four and a half lengths clear of Boerhan in third. 

 

Kick On joins yourtimeisnow and Aretha, who landed the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) prior to running a half-length second in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) as stakes winners for Charm Spirit, who is currently serving mares in the UK at Tweenhills Stud for a fee of £17,500.

 

The son of Invincible Spirit has also been represented by a host of trial winners in New Zealand and looks an exciting young stallion prospect.