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Important SN update for SouthlandHome track double for Ayton
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • July 3rd, 2025 5:00 pm
Tellme You Loveme won the Dunstan Horsefeeds (2200m) at Ashburton on Thursday | Photo: Race Images South
The inclement weather didn’t dampen Robyn Ayton’s spirits at Ashburton on Thursday, with the local trainer posting her first double courtesy of Lady Bankside and Tellme You Loveme.
“That was my first double, so it was nice to do it on the home track, it was fantastic,” Ayton said.
“They have both been working well, they look great and have done nothing wrong, so I was hopeful heading into today.”
Ayton was particularly hopeful about the chances of Lady Bankside in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m) after the mare finished runner-up over the same distance at Timaru last month.
The daughter of Belardo jumped well from her wide gate and was pushed forward early by apprentice jockey Donovan Cooper to take an early lead. She relished the heavy conditions and skipped away to a 3-1/2 length victory, securing a welcome bonus for her connections.
“I was a little bit apprehensive about the draw (11), but she got to the lead easily enough and once she got there and found the rail she was in a happy place,” Ayton said.
The five-year-old mare will now likely step up in distance, something Ayton had intended on doing before the Pearl Series race was added to the Ashburton meeting.
“She would have gone 1400m today, but it was her last chance at a Pearl Series, so I dropped her back down for the 1200m because she was eligible for it,” Ayton said. “I think she would like to go a bit further.”
Later on the card, Cooper once again donned Ayton’s silks when hopping aboard Tellme You Loveme ahead of the Dunstan Horsefeeds (2200m), and the seven-year-old daughter of Tavistock was looking to recapture some form after a couple of disappointing runs.
The pair sat parked for the majority of the journey before finding the lead at the 800m mark. They didn’t relinquish their advantage and hugged the rail for the remainder of the journey, pulling away in the concluding stages to win by 3-1/4 lengths.
“She was tough and she tried hard,” Ayton said. “I was disappointed with her last start, but she has always been honest.”
Tellme You Loveme’s record now sits at six wins, but Ayton is unsure when she will add to it, citing difficulty in finding a suitable target in the near future.
“There is not a lot coming up for Tellme You Loveme, there are not many open handicap staying races down here,” she said.
The weather continued to deteriorate as the meeting progressed, and it was subsequently abandoned following race seven due to visibility and safety issues.
“We must have had luck on our shoulder today,” Ayton said.
