Racing: Watch for Alyssum's late bloom

Don't make the mistake of thinking seven-year-old Alyssum might be past her use-by date.

The Manawatu-trained mare, who tackles the North Island Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham today, is probably only now approaching her physical peak.

Alyssum comes from a slow-maturing family, a number of whom have been competitive in good company at age seven or older.

Alyssum's dam, Kay Row, had five wins and three placings from 10 starts as a seven-year-old and won the Awapuni Gold Cup as an 8-year-old.

Sandboy, a half-brother to Kay Row, won three races as a seven-year-old, two at eight and another at nine. Denholm, another half-brother, also won an open handicap as a seven-year-old.

The family has been nurtured by Taranaki breeders Des and Kay Fleming, who race Alyssum, and like most of the Fleming horses, Alyssum did not begin racing until she was a four-year-old.

Said trainer Peter Hurdle this week: "She might be the same as Kay Row. She's certainly in better shape, physically and mentally, than she's ever been.

"She's been a hard mare to keep the weight on but she's holding her condition really well now and is a lot more relaxed in her work."

Alyssum's first two starts as a seven-year-old also indicated that she has come up well this campaign.

She was first past the post over 1200m at Otaki, before being relegated to third, and then finished fifth in the group two Auckland Breeders' Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie.

Alyssum was six lengths behind Calveen at Ellerslie but only a length and a quarter from second after being hampered in the early stages of the race. Hurdle, who trains in partnership with his wife Nikki at Awapuni, has made a good start to the season with six wins from 32 runners, including the listed Levin Stakes last week with Our Fuji.

Our Fuji has come through his Otaki run well and is likely to race at either Te Rapa or Awapuni before heading to Ellerslie at New Year.

- NZPA