Trainer John Parsons and owner Barbara Wigley combined to win the listed $55,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes at Wingatui yesterday, 18 years after winning the equivalent race with the fine mare Seamist.
Their winner yesterday was Thimble, ridden by Waiuku apprentice Samantha Spratt. She is due to begin a month's suspension after racing next Saturday.
Spratt also won on the John and Karen Parsons-trained Sharp Prick yesterday. She leads the apprentice riders this season with 63 wins, a lead of five over James McDonald, who won the group one New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes on Special Mission on Saturday.
Spratt admitted careless riding after finishing second on Culminate in the Breeders' Stakes. She shifted out near the 300m, causing checks to Vercors and Irlanda. Ebony Babe was also inconvenienced. Spratt is suspended until May 12 inclusive.
The Parsons stable made it a day to remember yesterday by winning the final race at Methven with the pacer Falcons Idol.
Thimble is now the co-leader with Cherry Creek in the southern filly of the year series. A 1600m race at Riccarton on April 19 and the Warstep Stakes (2000m) there on May 3 remain in the series.
Cherry Creek is spelling and will not contest those races.
The distance yesterday was 1400m and John Parsons is optimistic about the chance of Thimble over the longer distances.
‘‘I think she is looking for more ground,'' Parsons said.
Seamist won the Wingatui race in 1990 when it was known as the Otago Mannequin Stakes and run over 1600m.
Seamist took the southern filly series after wins in the Waitaki Stakes (1600m) at Oamaru, the
Inglewood Stakes (1600m) at Ashburton and the Warstep Stakes, the remaining races in the series that season.
Wigley, of Christchurch, raced the Beaufort Sea mare with her late husband, Sandy. They bred Seamist, who won 12 races, including the gr one Auckland Stakes.
Wigley bought Thimble for $35,000 as a 2yr-old at the South Island sale last year. The filly was offered by Ancroft Stud, Matamata.
She is by Pins from Exposed, a winning half-sister by Exploding Prospect to Oval Office, who ran second in the Canterbury Guineas in Sydney.
Sharp Prick has the Great Western Hurdles in his sights after a decisive flat win yesterday.
‘‘The Western Hurdles [at Riverton on May 1] will probably be his next race,'' Parsons said.
Sharp Prick, raced by Ben and Karen Calder and Winsome Dormer, has raced once over hurdles for a win at Waimate in July.
Capacia, winner of a rating 70 1600m race at Te Aroha on Saturday, is headed to Riccarton for the fillies race. She is trained by Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott.
Michael Pitman, the leading South Island trainer, took his tally for the season to 61 when he won with Global Emperor and Square Pants yesterday.
Go Otago did well to finish second to Sharp Prick yesterday. She established a 15-length lead in the middle stages after her saddle slipped.
Chris Johnson was suspended for three riding days from April 12 to 18 inclusive after he admitted careless riding in the first race at Trentham on Saturday.
Johnson, riding Slipperywhenwet, shifted in at the 350m and checked Beada Believe It.
Jamie Bullard missed his three riding engagements at Wingatui yesterday due to influenza.
