Members of the Victorian Racing Club are looking forward to more wins with their promising grey galloper Dalaniwave after her last-start victory at Geelong.
The Irish bred mare won the Sportingbet Hcp (1733m) on January 2 with a finishing burst that delighted her large syndicate of owners and trainer Mark Kavanagh.
Dalaniwave (4m Dalakhani – Wavertree Girl by Marju) was purchased as an incentive for VRC members to get more involved in racing horses. The concept was the brainchild of VRC committee member Amanda Elliott and everyone has been thrilled with the mare’s progress.
“When we launched the idea with our members, I felt confident we would get 20 takers,” Elliott recalled. “But I wasn’t prepared for the hundreds who wanted to be part of the horse. We had to conduct a ballot!
“Mark Kavanagh has been brilliant with regular stable visits to ensure everyone get the whole experience, not just race day. It’s being managed and co-ordinated by James Earls at the VRC.
“Because so many missed out on Dalaniwave, we are actively pursuing other suitable horses. It’s a great way to add value to VRC membership and, in a broader sense, brings new participants into racing. It’s been a positive outcome for everyone.”
Elliott seconded Swettenham Stud owner Adam Sangster to help source a suitable galloper for the syndicate.
Sangster had leased Hussonet filly Members Joy to the Melbourne Racing Club in 2011 and she has won a Listed race at Flemington and over $270,000 in prizemoney to date.
He struck again for the VRC when buying Dalaniwave in England. She is by the Aga Khan’s flagship stallion Dalakhani and her dam Wavertree Girl is a half-sister to LR Woodcote Stakes winner Screwdriver.
There’s stamina right through her pedigree. Second dam Lust (Pursuit Of Love) is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Classic Cliche (English St Leger) and My Emma (Yorkshire Oaks).
“I asked John Foote to buy us a yearling who could develop into a Cups’ horse,” Sangster recounted. “He has the record on the board having purchased Tugela at Tattersalls and she foaled Makybe Diva.”
Dalaniwave is a March foal and was given plenty of time to acclimatise before Kavanagh put her in work. After a debut placing on a Heavy 9 at Ballarat in June, she was put away again and has come back all the better for that patient approach.
“It was a good win at Geelong but she is still green and just needs a bit of racing experience,” Kavanagh said. “She jumped from an Avoca maiden to a Geelong 0-64 and beat them on their merits. She’s obviously on the improve.
“There will be another suitable race for her later this month.”
– Karl Patterson