2 Win Sunday - Family Ties Special

Stakes' winner Family Ties (5 m Contributer – Glamazon, by Pins) resumed with a terrific victory in the $18,500 Rating 75 1400 metres on 3 November at Ashburton.

Family Ties won the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1800m) when racing against the best fillies of her age as a three-year-old, and now the winner of four races, she signalled her readiness to resume racing when finishing strongly for second in a trial on 8 October at Matamata.

Ridden by apprentice Amber Riddell (a4), whose previous two rides for the stable had resulted in wins aboard Perfect Scenario (Iffraaj), Family Ties was perfectly situated in sixth, chasing a competitive tempo, and after circling uninterrupted into the straight she sustained an excellent finish down the outside.

Family Ties defeated race favourite Spot On Time (Time Test), while the second runner for trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Alminette (Burgundy), came from a handy position to finish close up in fifth, indicating she continues to improve.

In the race sponsored by Barneswood Farm, named Planet Rock 2011 & Media Sensation 2018 1000 Guineas, Family Ties ran 1400 metres in 1:23.0, last 600m in 34.9 (approx.), and paid $14.30 & $3.40 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“She was a relatively cheap purchase by Dave (Ellis) at the Ready to Run Sale, which comes around again in a few weeks at Karaka, and she’s been a very genuine performer throughout her career,” Bergerson said.

“She seems to have a good affinity with the apprentices, having also won with Jess Allen up, and we decided to send her down south to our stables at Riccarton, just for a change of scene as much as anything.

“We hoped she could rediscover some of her three-year-old form and I can’t speak highly enough of Hunter (Durrant) and our team down there for the excellent job they’re doing with the horses.

“It looked like a nice resuming race for her and, obviously, Amber Riddell was able to get in there with a nice light weight.

“There was plenty of speed on, she gave her a lovely run and the mare was very game on footing that was probably a little too firm for her. But she toughed it out and hopefully we can find a nice race for her during Cup Week (9, 13, 16 Nov.) at Riccarton.”

From a very good family, Family Ties was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $60,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud, and owned by DJ Bloodstock Partnership (John Elstob & Denise Bassett), Duck Duck Goose Syndicate, GN & CM Bloodstock (Glenn & Cathie Holmes) and Gilbert Southworth.

Sire Contributer (High Chaparral), who unfortunately passed prematurely in September this year, was a dual Group One winner to 2000 metres in Australia, while the dam of Family Ties, Glamazon, is by Champion Broodmare Sire Pins (Snippets). 

Grand-dam Glitzy (O’Reilly) won the Rotorua Stakes (Listed, 1400m) among nine wins, and left four winners of 18 races including Group Three placed Glintz, a sister to Glamazon. 

“She’s not the biggest, but she was starting to develop more of a hind-quarter on her when she won in the autumn and she’s matured again since then too,” Ellis said.

“She’d often shown a bit of dash fresh-up, trialled very well, so it’s no surprise to see her finishing off like that to win.

“And Amber Riddell, what a terrific effort to have three rides in the tangerine for three wins. She’s done a great job for us aboard Perfect Scenario, has a valuable four-kilo claim, and she couldn’t have judged it any better than she did today on Family Ties.”

Family Ties was strapped by Ashlyn Lee. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz