Searby takes shot with first-starter
Veteran horseman Ray Searby will be hoping to go bang with first-starter Popcornfriday at Shepparton on Wednesday, February 10.
Searby has not trained a winner since late 2006, but has had only a handful of starters since then.
Popcornerfriday is one of three debutants in a two-year-old pace.
POPCORNFRIDAY
Camlach-Christmas Cleo (Julius Caesar NZ) 2yo gelding
Bred by Greg Hargreaves
Owned by KF and B Sandiford
Christmas Cleo was unraced and this is her first foal.
Popcornfriday is prepared by former prominent trainer Ray Searby, who has not had a starter sin 2018-19.
A trainer of more than 100 winners, Searby had his latest success in 2006-07 – Rugged Prince at Geelong on October 22, 2006.
He enjoyed success with Rowdy Chief in the early 1980s, and Pacific Destiny in the early to mid-1980s
ALWAYS BE CHLOE
Always B Miki US-As It Is In Heaven (Village Jasper US) 2yo filly
Bred by Raymond Wilson
Owned by SC and PJ McDonald
As It Is In Heaven won fives races and go one to produced six winners as a broodmare – headed by Doubledipofheaven (Rock N Roll Heaven US) 23 wins.
Other progeny includes Hayleys Comet (Rock N Roll Heaven) 8 wins, Power Top Bolt (Sportswriter US) 6 wins and Rosie Orourke (Art Major US) 4 wins.
Always Be Chloe’s third dam Girl Called Destiny (Fast Knight US) won 14 races.
ZERO IN
Alto Christiano NZ-Miss Marg Shannon (Jet Laag US) 2yo gelding
Bred by SC and PJ McDonald
Owned by SC and PJ McDonald
Leased by DG Farrar, M O’Sullivan and P Foyster
Zero In is the third foal of Miss Marg Shannon (1 win) to get to the races.
Miss Marg Shannon is out of Flo Jo Shannon (Walton Hanover US), the dam of five winners, including group 3-placed Snazzy Shannon (Ace N Sevens US) 15 wins.
SINGER SNAP
Shadow Play US-Zora Paree (Torado Hanover US) 5yo mare
Bred by GD and JT Gourley
Owned by KM Wheeler, NI Rob
Zora Paree was unraced, but has left five winners.
Singer Snap is a half-sister to group 3-placed Zaguar (Jaguar Cam, US) 17 wins, $121,000; Drunken Desire (Real Desire US) 1:51.8, 37 wins, $377,000 ; and Mind The Wire (Jeremes Jet US) 1:51.9, 28 wins, $259,000.
