Four-year-old mare Lipa Mala claimed her maiden victory in the Oamaru Scaffolding (1200m) maiden at the North Otago racecourse on Friday.
Lipa Mala was quick away from barrier three before being eased back to mid-field by jockey Kylie Williams, the pair were briefly held up by the leaders as the entered the home bend but were then able to get clear and reel in the leaders for a one-and-a-quarter length win.
Lipa Mama winning at Oamaru
Trainer Andrew Carston admitted he had expected to see the daughter of Vadamos in the winner’s circle before Friday.
“She’s a filly that I’ve had a bit of an opinion of, but I’ve been let down a couple of times,” he said.
“She’s a nice horse but she’s just taken a little bit of time. She seems to have switched on now so hopefully she goes on with it from here.”
Carston credited her owners Markwood Lodge for their patience.
“It’s great to get another winner for Markwood Lodge who are great and loyal clients of the stable,” he said.
Bred by Greg Tomlinson’s Nearco Stud Lipa Mala is by Rich Hill Stud’s Group One-winning French miler Vadamos – sire of Carston Racing’s stakes winner Art De Triomphe, out of the stakes performed Reset mare Muisgny.
She was purchased by Markwood Lodge in 2019 from a gavelhouse.com auction for $1,100.
Carston also has Lipa Mala’s two-year-old half-brother by Charm Spirit in the stable who he purchased from the Karaka Book Two Sale earlier this year.
“I bought him because I liked her and I liked him, he’s a nice horse,” he said.
The win capped of a big week for Carston who presented a team of 12 at the Ashburton trials on Tuesday, including heat winners Thats Charming and Chadillac and multiple placegetters.
“We had a really good day,” he said. “I even had a couple of winners which is pretty unlike me, I don’t win many trials, but the team is coming up really well.
“A couple of the three-year-old fillies trialled up well and we probably need one to put their hand up with Millford Sound and Hasabro now in Aussie, we’re looking for some nice ones.
“I was really happy with how everything trialled actually we didn’t have one bad trial out of twelve so pretty positive going into the spring.”
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