The Dennis Brothers’ contribution to Southland racing will be acknowledged by their peers at Ascot Park on Thursday where the Southland Racing Club will hold the ‘Dennis Brothers Dynasty Day’.
The brothers brought the curtain down on a near six-decade training career earlier this season, and their local club have elected to acknowledge their achievements by naming six races on Thursday’s eight-race card after their past Champion racehorses.
Local trainer Robert Dennis, whose father Tony is part of the Dennis Brothers quarter alongside Ray, Martin and Joe, is pleased to see their contribution to the racing community acknowledged.
“They (Dennis Brothers) stepped back from training earlier this season and the Southland Racing Club are acknowledging their contribution to not only racing in Southland, but racing in New Zealand, and are having the ‘Dennis Brothers Dynasty Day’,” Robert Dennis said.
“Apart from The Kurd, who is the foundation mare, the others have all been Champions at the New Zealand Racing Awards.”
That quintet includes The Jewel, The Pixie, The Fantasy, The Twinkle, and the Dimple.
Dennis took on the brothers remaining quartet of racehorses upon their retirement, adding to his burgeoning Ascot Park operation, which will be represented by 11 runners on Thursday, including stable newcomer Miss Layla.
Purchased by Dennis out of Kiltannon Stables’ 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft for $20,000, she was entrusted to the care of Riccarton trainers Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong.
She won two races for the stable, including the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at just her third career start. While she hasn’t won since then, she has placed in the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m).
Looking to recapture form, the daughter of Burgundy was sent south to tackle the Summer Cup (2147m) at Riverton on New Year’s Day, where she finished fourth, and the decision was made to keep her in the south under Dennis’ care.
“She is a high-quality horse, she is a Listed winner, but it has been a while since she has won a race,” Dennis said.
“We thought we might be better to target the easiest race we could, and I think we have found it on Thursday.”
Miss Layla will line-up in The Pixie (2200m) where she will be ridden from the ace barrier with three-kilogram claiming apprentice Amber Riddell aboard, which will bring her allotted weight down to 56.5kg.
“I am grateful for Amber to come down and ride a handful for us and her three-kilogram claim will certainly help, and she has ridden the horse before too, which is going to help,” Dennis said.
“Hopefully she can have a good confidence builder on Thursday, and if she did, we could maybe look at some of the Cups races down here with her.”
Miss Layla will be joined in the race by stablemate Stolen Magic who ended her purple patch of form with a subpar ninth placed run in the Summer Cup earlier this month.
“She had a little freshen-up after Riverton and she has run well at Invercargill before,” Dennis said. “The small field is going to help and with 52.5 kilos on her back, I would expect her to run a bold race.”
Dennis will have a three-pronged attack in The Dimple (1400m) courtesy of Loftys Gift, Medina and Vino Valentino.
“Medina was a bit of headscratcher last time at Riverton (eighth). We were disappointed with that,” Dennis said. “She does have a pretty ordinary second-up record so hopefully that’s all it was. We are expecting to see her run an improved race.
“Loftys Gift is fresh-up since the first day of Cup Week in the Metropolitan (Listed, 2600m). She usually runs quite well fresh and hopefully she is on track for some of the southern Cups races.
“Vino Valentino is fresh after running on Melbourne Cup Day. She will probably need the run and look to improve as she steps up in trip next time.”
Dennis will also be represented by debutant Leona and Sailor Girl in The Fantasy (1200m), last start runner-up Pretty Fly and The Ocean Heart in the Enatin/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1400m), Nake Spirit in the NZB Mega Maiden Series (1600m), and Xrated in The Twinkle 2200m.
“The first starter, Leona, in the 1200m will probably need the run and experience,” Dennis said. “Sailor Girl, if she gets off the ballot, I would like to think she will run an improved race on a firmer track.
“It was a super effort last time from Pretty Fly. She has still got a fair bit to learn, but she has got a fair bit of ability. I think she will be hard to beat.
“The Ocean Heart will be a quality horse in time, but just needs to learn a bit and develop a bit more. She is a lovely filly, and a half to a Group One winner (The Perfect Pink).
“Naked Spirit, I am expecting an improved performance from him with a more positive ride. He has been working well.
“Xrated was a good third last time at Timaru. She mixes her runs, but she has been working well, looks the part and it is not an overly strong race. She is a genuine stayer and I think she will run well.”
Following Thursday’s meeting, Dennis will head north to New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka where he is hoping his good run of sourcing quality fillies can continue.
“Hopefully I can come back with another two or three nice fillies,” he said.
“I have bought four fillies between $20,000 and $25,000 – Goldie’s Chance and Miss Layla are both stakes winners, and Quintabelle and Betty Spaghetti are both stakes placed. Between them they have won nearly $500,000.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
