Gold Fever Reaps Grp 2 Riches

Clever placement by trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards resulted in Gold Fever (2 f Savabeel - Gold Rocks, by Oratorio) taking out the most prestigious event on the Matamata racing calendar, on 25 February at Matamata.

The $100,000 J Swap Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) is always hotly contested by the best two-year-old fillies and following her close third in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, the training partners hatched a plan that would see the colourful filly contest the Breeders'.

Off 41 days, and to ensure she was in peak condition for the race, Gold Fever recorded a smart victory in the Race A Horse with Te Akau 1200 metres on 11 February at Te Rapa and her five starts have yielded three wins and two thirds.

A filly renowned for her steely attitude as much as her talent, Gold Fever became the second filly in succession to win the race from the mare Gold Rocks, after Gold Rush (So You Think) won in 2016.

“It was a great thrill to win with this beautiful filly,” Ellis said.

“This is the sixth time that we've won this race from our training base in Matamata, and it's just such a thrill.  You never get sick of winning and to see this fantastic group of owners having the time of their life is extremely satisfying.

“Everyone can be involved and share in this fantastic industry because the fun people have just cannot be described.”

Ellis paid tribute to Club Chairman Dennis Ryan and his committee for putting on such a great day of racing, and also the race sponsor.

“The track is the best I've ever seen here and the crowd is fantastic,” Ellis said. “Your board and committee have put in a lot of hard work. The whole place looks terrific and the day could not be better.  J. Swap is one of the great companies in New Zealand, and it's great to see them putting so much back into the community and into racing.

“Steve and Jamie have done a fantastic job with this filly,” Ellis said. “They knew she was peaking for today and it's also a great thrill to have Opie Bosson aboard, who came to work for Te Akau when he was fourteen, and he rode the filly beautifully.”

Ridden by Opie Bosson, who recorded his third win in the race, Gold Fever was initially seventh in running, on a torrid early pace, swept up four wide from seven lengths off the pace at the 600m and never flinched in her duel with Joyfilly (Highly Recommended) to win narrowly but well.

Third favourite, Gold Fever paid $5.50 & $1.90 fixed and $5.20 & $1.80 on the tote, running the 1200 metres in 1:10.0 (last 600m in 35.6).

Bosson said he ended up positioned where he was “by default”.

“She was knocked sideways at the start, ending up in that spot by accident but in the end it worked out pretty good. She travelled nicely and the fast pace probably helped her. She's a tough little filly, not the easiest to ride, and all credit to Cameron Lammas. He's done an amazing job with her, educated her, and made my job a lot easier."

Since coming onboard at Christmas as leading rider for Te Akau, Bosson has ridden sixteen winners, highlighted by Hall of Fame (Savabeel) in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Melody Belle (Commands) in the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m).

“Being back here and riding beautiful horses, like this filly, and the way they're going is a dream come true,” said Bosson, having returned from a stint in Hong Kong.

“Opie put in her a lovely spot, on a breakneck speed,” said Richards, of the ride by Bosson.

“She relaxed really well in the first half of the race and closed off strong. She's not very big, but she's tough and she's got a massive heart.  The Savabeel's are very tough and she's a filly that has a real attitude on her, but come race day she's very hard to get past.

“We were a bit stiff in this race last year when Sassy ‘N' Smart came from last and finished second, so it has been on her radar for a little while."

Richards said: “Everything is going really well, the team is working really well together, and we all have to thank Dave for all the lovely yearlings he buys”, adding that Gold Fever could now contest the $200,000 Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) on March 11 at Ellerslie.

“To win the Swap's Matamata Breeders' Stakes is very good,” Autridge said. “All the staff at home will enjoy it and they're doing a great job, and we all have to thank Dave for buying horses like this. It makes our job easier and keeps our owners very happy. And it once again it was a great ride by Opie.”

On behalf of the breeders, Waikato Stud proprieter Mark Chittick said: “We're very proud to breed the winner of the Breeders' Stakes. We have a lot to do with the Swap's, do a lot of business together; they're good blokes and it's lovely to be involved with them.

“I really take my hat off to Te Akau, and the job that these guys do. We took this filly to the Gold Coast, as a filly that could run in the two-year-old races in Australia. She was out of a two-year-old Group winning mare, that had already left a two-year-old Group winner at that stage, and a few weeks later she left the Breeders' Stakes winner (Gold Rush) last year and this year she's done it again.

“We have a lovely filly in the paddock that Steve and Jamie will be training and hopefully we'll be back here at the same time next year.

“Opie (Bosson) is a great mate and it's great to see him and riding at his best. And it's terrific to have riders like him in New Zealand, as it is Te Akau, and the results they're getting and the job that they do,” Chittick said.

On course to witness the racing, New Zealand Racing Board Chief Executive John Allen said: “It's a great track, great Club, great sponsors, and also great to see crowds like this and the community supporting this fantastic sport.

“The Racing Board is focussed day in and day out in delivering and ensuring the industry has a bright future, and days like this is what we are all about.”

Gold Fever has a lovely Success Express (Hold Your Peace) influence on both sides of her pedigree. Success Express is the dam sire of Savabeel, through dual Group One winner Savannah Success.
A brilliant filly, winning eight of her fifteen starts, Savannah Success won a stakes race as a two-year-old over 1200 metres, won a further stakes race, a Group Three, two Group Two, including the Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm, and the New Zealand Oaks (2400m), and Ansett Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, at the highest level.  While on the dam side, Success Express is the dam sire of Oratorio, through Express A Smile.

Ellis said: “Our owners have put their hard earned money into this filly and it's great to see what a truly wonderful investment she is.  It gives Karyn and me such a thrill to see the smiles on the faces of owners, seeing how happy they are to win this prestigious race."

Ellis also thanked Garry & Mark Chittick for their involvement in breeding Gold Fever. “Go the Savabeel's, we've got plenty more at home to sell,” he said.

Gold Fever was strapped by Melissa Ford and Kris Shailer.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz