After a unlucky start to the campaign, The ZM Jay & Flynny Social Racing Club tasted success in grand style with Hoofsain Bolt (Casino Prince x Huluava) recording a decisive victory in the $7,000 Placemakers Carter Holt Harvey Maiden 1600m at Hawera yesterday.

Owned by Sir Peter Vela along with The ZM Jay & Flynny Social Racing Club, part an initiative of Social Racing, Hoofsain Bolt logged her first victory at start number eight after having no luck at her last three races for trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie.

Jockey Samantha Collet rode the daughter of Casino Prince positively from the barriers against her usual pattern of settling near the tail of the field that has been the cause of much of her bad luck. The pair settled behind the two leaders in a good position to challenge in the straight.

The horse affectionately referred to as ‘Hoofy’ bounded to the lead in the run home and raced away from the field, leaving them in her wake as she won by nearly two-lengths going past the post.

“It was nice to win a race for the syndicate,” commented Ramsay. “Hopefully she will get a bit of confidence out of that run and she might be able to go on with it.

“Last time at Wairoa they were winning on the speed and she was back last. She showed this campaign that she has a good turn of foot.

“She jumped well and was nice and relaxed behind the leaders who weren’t going hard. In those sorts of fields you have to make your own luck and get in a position away from the slow ones.”

Bred by Sir Peter Vela and Philip Vela, Hoofsain Bolt is from the first crop of Australian sire Casino Prince, the sire of brilliant racehorse All Too Hard, also from the first crop of the sire.

The four-year-old mare is out of Huluava (Pins), a half-sister to Listed winner Vercors (Catbird). Huluava was covered in 2013 by champion two-year-old racehorse Sepoy.

Earlier in the day Vendemiaire (Perfectly Ready x Vingtaine) was also successful for Pencarrow Racing and Queen of Excuses (No Excuse Needed x Kailey Princess) also picked up a cheque, finishing third in a Rating 65 1200m.