4 Win Saturday - Freeze Frame in the Frame

Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson was back in winning action when Freeze Frame (4 g Vadamos – Snow Petal, by Bernadini) won the $40,000 Westbury Stud Rating 75 1400 metres on Saturday at Matamata.

Having won earlier on the programme aboard stable-mate El Viento (El Roca), who stretched out nicely down the outside, Bosson brought Freeze Frame from ninth in running before bursting through between runners over the final furlong and he quickened clear to win decisively by one and a half lengths. 

“I thought about going around them, but he seemed happy tracking up behind them into the straight, which saved some ground,” Bosson said.

“He keeps coming up underneath you when there are horses in front of him and it was very good effort to win.”

On footing upgraded to Good4, Freeze Frame ran 1400 metres in a polished 1:22.4, last 600m in 34.8, and paid $5.80 & $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Freeze Frame had produced a whirlwind finish to win the Rating 75 1100 metres first-up on 2 December at Te Rapa, but most recently reared as the gates opened and then coursed wide in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 11 February at Tauranga, eliminating his chances.

Trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson elected to put blinkers on for the latest assignment and it paid dividends.

“It was really good to see him turn the form around today, after missing the start at Tauranga,” Walker said.

“It was another lovely ride of Opie’s, got a beautiful run through and everything panned out in front of him.  With that win under his belt it will get the confidence levels up again and we look forward to his next run.”

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $80,000 at the Karaka 2021 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Rich Hill Stud, Freeze Frame is owned by Te Akau Frozen Fame Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and now won four of 15 starts including six seconds.

“It was an enormous run when he won fresh-up in this campaign and the performance today was not too dissimilar,” Ellis said.

“He’s from a family that has left some very good horses and he’s showing to be one of them.

“It’s a great ownership group that are involved, including Waikato Thoroughbred Racing's CEO Butch Castles and his wife Tess, and he looks like there are more wins to come.

“I’d like to thank Westbury Stud for the sponsorship and what you put back into thoroughbred racing is terrific. So, well done and it must be great to be working in such a successful team as Westbury is.

“Thank you again to the Matamata Racing Club for putting on such a great meeting. The track condition is a credit to the whole team and I’d like to pass on Te Akau’s thanks to Graeme Styles who leads the field in track management.

“It’s lovely to see everyone here today and the continued support of this meeting is outstanding.”

Dam Snow Petal had left three dual winners prior to Freeze Frame, including Group race performed Platinum Petals (Deep Field) and Platinum Road (Declaration of War), who have each won over 1600 metres. 

His sire, Vadamos (Monsun), was the Leading First Season Sire at the Karaka Yearling Sales in 2020. 

An internationally bred and performed racehorse, Vadamos is by the top-class stallion Monsun who has sired three Melbourne Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) winners. 

Grand-dam Zirna (Deputy Governor) was a tremendous race mare that won the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) and went on to become Singapore Horse of the Year. In turn, she became a very good broodmare, leaving four-time winner and Group Two placed Crafty Irna (Starcraft), along with multiple winners Snitzel’s Goddess (Snitzel) and I’ve Gotta Feeling (Encosta de Lago). 

Freeze Frame was strapped by Muralla Mallesh.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz