Pins mare takes another winning step

30 October 2013

Progressive mare Etoile Filante furthered her record in a driving finish at Pukekohe Park this afternoon. The patiently-handled daughter of Pins was making the third appearance of her current preparation and now boasts career statistics of three wins and a placing from six appearances.

The four-year-old was bred by WS with David Williams, who races the mare from the Byerley Park stable of Peter and Dawn Williams. Etoile Filante settled in the last trio before she was drawn wide at the top of the straight and then finished resolutely under Mark Du Plessis for the victory.

She is out of the Zabeel mare Etoile du Nord, who won five races including the Listed Marton Cup and she was a multiple Group placegetter. It is also the family of the Gr 1 Breeders’ Cup mile winner and successful sire Artie Schiller.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

The writing of my Corner started many years ago, motivated by an irritation that I felt needed scratching. It was never my intention to make my commentary regular; neither did I intend to reinvent the direction of racing administration. It is both disappointing and ironical that what should be a simple, straightforward business provides a regular need for comment.

27 October 2026

Ocean Park’s With Grace seals NZ Cup berth

South Auckland mare With Grace secured her berth in next month’s Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton when extending her winning sequence to four with victory in the Baker Tilly Staples Rodway 2100 at Te Rapa on Labour Day Monday.