Comignaghi aboard as Scandalous breaks through

Zabay, with stable apprentice Corey Campbell aboard, beats Showpin (kylie Williams) to win the...
Zabay, with stable apprentice Corey Campbell aboard, beats Showpin (kylie Williams) to win the opening race for North Taieri trainers Brian and Shane Anderton at the Otago Racing Club's meeting yesterday. Photo: Christine O'Connor
NorthTaieri mare Scandalous made her long-awaited maiden win an impressive one when scoring by three lengths at Wingatui yesterday.

The nine-time placegetter delivered the victory trainer Steven Prince and owner-breeder Andy Denham had been waiting 19 starts for when powering away from her rivals in her first attempt past 2000m in race 3.

Earlier, Canterbury jockey Tina Comignaghi was called on to replace Jason Laking, who could not make the required 56.5kg weight for Scandalous.

Despite not having ridden the horse before, Comignaghi produced a perfect ride on the 5yr-old. She slotted Scandalous into the running line in the 2200m race and launched her before the home turn for a sustained finish.

The win should not be the last for the Shocking mare if the comments from her previous riders are anything to go by.

"Quite a few of the jockeys that have ridden her have got off and said once she breaks through she should win a rating 65 pretty quick," Prince said.

Scandalous had earned more than $16,000 in prize money leading into yesterday’s win.

"A few times barrier draws have beaten her and sometimes when she gets [to the front] she waits for them. That’s why I put the blinkers on her because she can run in and do things wrong – she can be a funny wee thing."

Scandalous looked to have her full focus on events yesterday when scoring by three lengths over Five Princes and Raise Ya Cards.

Comignaghi won the next race on Scooby, who found the dead4 rating of the track to his liking.

The Brian and Shane Anderton trained 6yr-old ended a patchy run of form when winning in rating 82 company over 1500m.

Zabay struck a good3 track at Gore last weekend, but was unable to cash in when denied clear room in the home straight.

The Stravinsky mare made the most of the clear running in front on a track she liked to win race 1 for stable apprentice Corey Campbell.

"Her problem has been she doesn’t like soft tracks, so when she got a decent track she was always going to be tough to beat," Brian Anderton said.

The Anderton stable notched a winning double when Flickitova won race 8 in the hands of Jacob Lowry.

Patience was rewarded when the Raise The Flag gelding broke his maiden as a 5yr-old over 1600m.

The Andertons have taken a patient approach with the horse, who looks like he will relish racing over 2000m and further.

"He was just a wee bit small and immature, so I kept doing a bit with him and putting him out. He looks to have come of age now."

Markwood Lodge, which races Zabay, also races Ranger, a half-brother to Flickitova.

The Ghibellines 3yr-old has placed in seven of his 11 starts in the North Island.

Flickitova is a full brother to handy Central Districts galloper Hoist.

Flickitova enabled Lowry to complete a winning double. He won the previous race and ensured Woodlands trainer Robert Dennis continued his good recent form as Lord Zacford posted his maiden win, over 1600m.

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