3 Win Wednesday - The Lady Holds Court

A winner in February last year, Lady Of Court (4 m Savabeel – Are There Any, by Exceed And Excel) emulated that performance with victory in the $25,000 Water Services Rating 60 1400 metres on 26 February at Taupo.

Having delivered a clear win over 1400 metres to break Maidens at Riccarton, Lady Of Court recorded consecutive seconds before being unable to quicken out of midfield in the Rating 60 1400 metres on 7 February at Tauranga, but bounced back to score with blinkers on.

Ridden by premiership leading jockey Craig Grylls, who won the first race on stable-mate Shockabella with a front running performance, Lady Of Court also pressed forward to lead, before slipping clear at the 500m in a well-timed move that resulted in her advantage being unassailable.

“First time with blinkers on today, and she’d been going really well,” Grylls said.

“We were left wondering a bit after Tauranga, but her form before that was really good and coming in with blinkers on, we were fairly confident.”

“I had it over a couple inside me to cross and lead. She was a little bit keen when she got there, but by the time I got to the end of the back straight she’d relaxed really well and a bit like the first one (Shockabella) she was able to get a good kick on them down the hill (500m) and put a winning break on them.”

On Good4 footing, Lady Of Court ran 1400 metres in 1:26.6, last 600m in 37.2, and paid $9.30 & $2.80 on the NZ TAB tote. 

On course, co-trainer Sam Bergerson said: “It was a really positive ride and that was the plan.

“Blinkers on, she probably raced a touch keenly, but it looks early, like you need to be on speed, so another good ride by Gryllsie.

“It was good to see her get the win and hopefully she’ll take confidence from it.”

Co-trainer Mark Walker added: “The owners have been super patient and all the wins she gets continually add to her value as a future broodmare.

“Craig (Grylls) summed up the speed really well, got away with cheap sectionals, and got a break before the corner. He’s riding in a rich vein of form.”

Owned by the Te Akau 2022 Fillies Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Lady Of Court was purchased by David Ellis CNZM as a yearling at Karaka, from the draft of Trelawney Stud. 

Lady Of Court had impressed Ellis as one of the nicest Savabeel fillies in the sale, on the back of former stable-mate and dual Horse of the Year Probabeel (Savabeel) winning four Group One races in Australia, while he had also bought her half-brother, Challa (Dissident), an eight-time winning sprinter. 

“She’s got a way to go to measure up to the hopes we held for as a yearling, but she has a beautiful pedigree and the more wins she can get the better for her residual and breeding value,” Ellis said.

“She was athletic, well balanced, moved really well, and we knew what a genuine racehorse with plenty of speed and courage that Challa was.”

Lady Of Court carries a cross of immortal sire Northern Dancer, while Are There Any has a Danzig cross. 

Lady Of Court was strapped by Rasheed Alam. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz