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

Well, I got a bit behind last week, with Friday slipping by without realising it; hence no Corner. I have said on too many occasions that negative messages are of no help to anyone, and yet there seems so often a reason to be concerned. Clearly, this week the well-constructed Guerin Report on the threatened downgrade of our Group 1 races demands our attention.

21 October 2026

Vale Ohope Wins, Ocean Park’s tough, kind and courageous daughter

Long before her Oaks double, Ohope Wins’ greatest victory belonged to the Waikato Stud staff and Matamata Veterinary Services vets who saved her as a desperately sick foal. Taken far too soon at Caulfield, her remarkable story is theirs too.