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Top mare ready to go; Smart filly on her way back; Jackson joins NZTR board

Top mare ready to go

Griante will begin her spring chase for further Group One honours at Caulfield on Saturday.

She will resume in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes following a trial placing at Cranbourne earlier this week.

"Dwayne (Dunn) said he never moved on her and she was strong late,” said trainer David Brideoake, who races the mare with New Zealand owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay.

Griante is a dual Group Three winner and she also finished third in the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley during her last preparation.

Smart filly on her way back

Group One filly Platinum Balos is in pre-training ahead of a return to Lisa Latta’s Awapuni quarters.

Placed in the Diamond Stakes as a juvenile, she was restricted by injuries to just two starts last season.

“She’s had issues with her knees, but she’s looking good now,” Latta said.

The stable will have a number of runners at Thursday’s Foxton trials, including the talented Bella Court who has a win at Ellerslie to her credit and hasn’t raced since she was fifth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Jackson joins NZTR board

Successful businessman and experienced racing administrator Dr Alan Jackson has been appointed to the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Board.

He will replace the retiring Matthew Goodson while the members’ council has reappointed John Stace for another three year term.

Jackson was a founding director of the NZTR Board between 2003 and 2006 and served again in 2012-13, including a period as chairman.

Warzone in winners circle

The Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs-trained mare Warzone looks to have a bright future after a comfortable victory in the Whangarei ITM 1600 at Ruakaka on Wednesday.

Patiently handled, five-year-old mare Warzone quickly backed up her maiden win with victory in Rating 65 grade for the local training partnership.

“She’s come a long way,” Donna Logan said.

“Probably time has been on her side and she really loves the environment here (at Ruakaka).

“I think there are still more wins in store for her and she’ll stay.”