Miranda Gold in Kumara


The Pencarrow Racing team went on tour to the time-honoured meeting at Kumara on Saturday, and were handsomely rewarded with a gutsy win by Miranda Miss.

The Kumara Gold Nuggets meeting was being conducted for the 125th time, this year being staged in support of a special cause, with the meeting donating money towards the Pike River Mine tragedy that struck the region late last year. On course, 5c from all tote tickets was being donated to the charity fund, compelling the Pencarrow team to target the country meeting in support.

With Miranda Miss (Reset x Marie Claire, by O’Reilly) one of three runners taken to the West Coast by Pencarrow, she saved their biggest result for the last race on the card when she powered home to win by half a length in the $8,500 Birchfield Coal Mines Handicap (1810m).

Trainer Steven 'Rambo' Ramsay was thrilled with her effort.

“I was nervous when she hit the lead before the home turn but she was so eager I knew James had his hands full trying to position her anywhere else.

“She didn’t love the ground but she tried her absolute heart out and I’m thrilled she pulled off such a gutsy win.”

“It was great to have James McDonald down here with us and he had an excellent day. He quickly figured out the quirks of the Kumara track and capitalised on it to take home four races including the feature so we’re very proud of him,” commented Rambo.

The five-year-old daughter of Reset now has three wins, two seconds and three thirds from her 15 career outings.

Miranda Miss has been nominated for the $10,000 Hokitika Business Cup Rating 80 (2160m) on Wednesday. She's the only last start winner going into the race and carries 57kgs.

The grey mare is the first foal of Pencarrow Stud bred stakeswinner Marie Claire who was also Group 1 placed in the WRC Captain Cook Stakes (1600m).

Marie Claire is also represented by Miraflores in the Pencarrow team, the four-year-old daughter of Johar who is a dual winner to date.

Marie Claire has a yearling colt by Pentire at Lot 427 of the upcoming Karaka Premier Sale.

Pencarrow Stud was also represented in Kumara by the lightly raced Alentejo (Spartacus x Virtus, by Tale of the Cat). The raced four-year-old filly was having just her fourth raceday outing, putting in a strong performance in the hands of James McDonald to finish second by three-quarters of a length in the $7,500 Harcourts Maiden (1150m).

Also trained by Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie for Peter and Philip Vela, Alentejo is the first foal of the unraced Pencarrow bred mare Virtus. Virtus has left a two-year-old Pins filly, and a Darci Brahma yearling filly and weanling filly, all of which have been retained by the stud.