The 5yr-old mare is a recent recruit to the Tony and Lyn Prendergast stable at West Melton after Encharm broke down at Riverton last month.
Tony Prendergast turned to Waiuku trainer Moira Murdoch, who has been a helpful provider of North Island horses in recent years. Murdoch suggested the daughter of Fast 'N' Famous, who was winless after 19 starts but had six seconds to her name, could work out in the South Island.
''She sends a lot down to us. She knows the sort of horses that suit us down here,'' Prendergast said.
''We've probably had a dozen in the last three or four years from her. Arctic Ace came down as a four-win horse and we won 10 more with him.
''[The association] has been really good.''
Curtain Call was well backed yesterday after a solid South Island debut for third at Ashburton on May 9, although she had her excuses that day.
''She had missed a bit of work with a bit of a tie-up problem, so she came to the end of it in the last 100m at Ashburton but she plugged on well for third.''
Prendergast may have learned something new about the 5yr-old yesterday though as he tries to figure out a staying race for her in the next month.
''Moira sent her down saying she doesn't really like wet tracks.
''Mind you, it was pretty wet today.''
Nutinear too speedy
Nutinear had no problems with the heavy track yesterday either, showing gate speed once again to win a 1200m maiden.
His trainer, Terry Kennedy, of Wingatui, expects the son of Danske to get over more ground in future starts, although the success of any future ventures may come down to his manners.
''He's got the ability, but he's just got do things a bit better next time. He was lugging out the whole way.''
Nutinear showed promise at the Wingatui jumpouts in the spring on good tracks, so the type of track does not concern Kennedy too much as he plots out another assignment in the next two to three weeks.
''This was a bit of education more than anything - we'll try and ride him back a bit next start and educate him a bit better.''
Good day for McCullum
After a tough few days dealing with the fallout of the match-fixing saga, New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum had something to cheer about yesterday when, in between the birth of his third child in the morning and being named Otago sportsperson of the year last night, El Dorado Sun ploughed through the track to win the rating 75 1400m.
The rating 62 gelding was out of his grade but was good enough to give apprentice Samantha Wynnne her 36th winning ride of the season.
She added one more on Grey Tom in the rating 65 2200m to hit 37 wins for this term.
McCullum shares the ownership of the Katherine Thomson-trained 5yr-old with Ray Merrifield, Brian McLaughlin and Kay Buckley.
Additional information for meetings today. -
M2 Auckland RC
Riders
Race 5: Etonian - J Jago.
Race 7: Super Thunder - S McKay (a).
Scratchings
Race 5: Tokyo King, Okay Annie, Tukawa, Jafa Jill.
Weather, showery; track, slow9.
M4 Wellington RC
Riders
Race 6: Golden Miss - N Teeluck (a).
Race 7: Don'tlikemonday - J Shackleton (a)
Scratchings
Race 4: Keepthesecret, Sky Hawk.
Weather, overcast; track, heavy11.
