Westview Filly Too Cool In Delightful Lady Classic

To the cheer of her large syndicate group, Cool For Cats (NZ) (Always B Miki) was able to fulfil her early promise when taking out the Group Two Delightful Lady Classic (1700m) at Alexandra Park last Friday night.

From the ace draw, driver John Dunn wasn’t coerced to enter an early speed duel, instead taking hold of his filly off the arm to settle three back on the fence following the early burn. 

Heading down the back straight, Dunn was able to extricate himself off the marker pegs to give his charge the chance of finding clear air out wide. And that’s exactly what unfolded, with the daughter of Always B Miki charging home late out wide to pip Ripples (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) at the post to win by a nose.

Dunn was delighted to get the win for industry stalwarts Nigel and Brenda Armstrong, who formed the Westview Racing Syndicate, whose 26th iteration race the mare, alongside the Fitzgerald Family Syndicate, The Witches Of Westview No.2 Syndicate,  and Unhinged Racing Syndicate.

“It was great for Nigel and Brenda of Westview Racing, they put a lot into the industry so to get a reward on a big stage like this is even more special,” Dunn said.

It was Cool For Cats’ fourth start, and Dunn said he is pleased the stable, run by his father Robert and wife Jenna, elected to bring her north to race right-handed at Alexandra Park following a couple of starts in Canterbury.

“She has just got better and better,” he said. “Down home she went great races but got hanging at the wrong time, so we took a gamble (to head to Auckland) and it paid off.

“She could have gone the wrong way anytime this horse and with the racing, she has held it all together so far.”

Cool For Cats was offered through Belmont Park’s 2024 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale at Christchurch where she was purchased by Diamond Racing Stables for $14,000.

She is the first foal out of one-win Bettor’s Delight mare Bunter’s Dream, who is out of three-time Group One winner and New Zealand two and three-year-old filly of her year Western Dream, and is a half-sister to Group One performer Western Cullen.

Cool For Cats has won one of her four career starts to date and has accrued more than $40,000 in prizemoney.

Vendor	Belmont Park
Purchaser	Diamond Racing Stables
Owner(s)	Westview Racing No.26 Syndicate, Fitzgerald Family Syndicate, The Witches Of Westview No.2 Syndicate, Unhinged Racing Syndicate
Breeding	Always B Miki - Bunter's Dream
Sale	2024 National Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($14,000)
Breeder(s)	W E Bain,Mrs P M Bain