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

I was going to have a spell this week, after all, if I’m going to comment on our favourite sport weekly, I really want to reflect my belief on how much joy I get from being involved. Sure, not everything is peaches and cream with the occasional need to prod those with the responsibility of managing our future.

10 October 2025

The Corner with Garry Chittick

The woeful participation in this year’s local bodies election is a reflection of our changing attitude to service. It used to be a badge of honour to garner the voters’ support, more importantly, such a cross-section of society, balancing the professional leadership, generally prevented radical changes.