Out in Front brilliant

Press, 9 May 1983, Page 29

Out in Front brilliant

Special correspondent Wellington

A policy of breeding from the daughters of stakes winners has started successfully for the Matamata veterinarian John O’Flaher-

tyMr O’Flaherty initiated his plan at the 1978 National mixed bloodstock sale at Trentham when he purchased the Bucentaur mare, Brightest, for $l5OO. Brightest was in foal to Frontal at the time and on Saturday the resultant progeny, the mare, Out in Front, recorded a brilliant performance in winning the Group 111 Cuddle Stakes (1600 m at Trentham. Brightest, which had been raced by Nelson Bunker

Hunt, was the winner of only two races herself, one over hurdles, but her dam was the brilliant Dashing Star, by Star Performer.

Dashing Star won 19 races and was joint top weight filly on the 1960-61 three-year-old Free Handicap. Her successes included a Great Northern St Leger, A.R.C. Cornwall Handicap and a Taranaki Cup, and she ran second in the Gloaming Stakes at Trentham and third in the Great Northern Oaks.

Dashing Star is also the dame of Delemont (3 wins) and a half-sister to Dasheen (6 wins) and Even Break.

Out in Front is the third foal from Brightest, the

mare previously producing Bright Dash, a placegetter, and Pagan Star. Unfortunately for Mr O’Flaherty, Brightest has failed to reproduce since the arrival of Out in Front.

Mr O’Flaherty races Out in Front in partnership with his wife, Lynn, along with George Lowe, of Gisborne, and John Spedding, of Auckland. The mare is trained at Stratford by Dick Bothwell. Ridden by Jim Cassidy, who was having his third ride on the mare and second win, Out in Front gave her supporters plenty of concern when she became awkwardwardly placed midfiled on the rails passing the 600 m. It was not until after

straightening that Cassidy was able to get Out in Front off the fence, once she saw daylight, Out in Front accelerated brilliantly and dashed through to hit the front short of the post. Her winning margin over Alley Oop was a length.

It was Out in Front’s sixth win from 20 starts and she had been placed a further five times for total stakes of $30,000.

Trainer Bothwell said that providing she comes through the race well, he would take her north for the Lady Norrie Stakes (1600 m at Te Rapa next Saturday. Out in Front ran sixth in the race last year and is an immeasureably better horse now.