Group races are on the cards for exciting Victorian mare Johannapine after she scored an impressive first up win at Caulfield this afternoon.
Trainer Mark Webb is weighing up whether he sends the mare north to Sydney or stays home in Victoria in an attempt to send her residual value as a broodmare soaring.
Today the classy daughter of Johannesburg extended her impressive record to three wins and a second placing from her four lifetime starts.
“The Oakleigh Plate has been in the back of our heads a little bit, but there is also the race in Sydney to consider,” he said referring to the Group Two Breeders Classic (1200m) on February 18.
“You prefer to stay home because when you travel you upset the routine in the stable and the horses but she does handle the wet tracks beautifully and Sydney is copping a lot of rain.”
Johannapine was sent to the front by Dwayne Dunn and she held that position throughout, cruising home to win by a length and three quarters.
“We thought she would win today so long as she didn’t get held up,” Webb said after the race.
“Dwayne took the initiative which was good to see but she is still a bit green.”
“She was having a look around and got a bit lost in frront.”
“To her credit she knuckled down and she’s done the job,” Webb added.
Johannapine is turning out a value buy for connections following her purchase by Heritage Bloodstock for $42,500 at the 2008 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
She was a member of the Swettenham Stud Dispersal Sale draft at the auction having been bred by Sangster family.
By the sire of Group One winners including Sageburg, Scat Daddy, Turffontein and Once Were Wild, Johannapine is the first winner to date for her dam Alpine Echo.
An unraced daughter of Danzero, Alpine Echo is a full sister to the multiple stakes winner Pinezero and three quarter sister to the group performed, seven time winning Hong Kong galloper Wealthy.
It is also the family of proven group winners including Schubert, Happy Giggle, Downhill Racer, Recast and stakes winning sire Gonski.
