4 Win Saturday - Inspired Indeed
13 October, 2024
Sprinting well fresh-up, Inspired By Art (4 m So You Think – La Bella Delicia, by O’Reilly) impressively won the $65,000 Rating 65 1200 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.
Ending the previous campaign following the Group 2 Lowland Stakes over 2000m, Inspired By Art realised her potential when charging late to win over 1600 metres last season, after finishing second in each of her two starts to 1400 metres.
She had remained held together while sustaining a strong gallop for second when trialling on 19 September at Rotorua, and possessed the class to race well fresh-up from barrier one before stepping in distance.
With stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM aboard, Inspired By Art began well to settle fifth on the inner, was off to level at the 250m and raced clear to win easily by two and three-quarter lengths.
“She travelled beautifully throughout and the barrier (one) did help,” Bosson said. “She’s got a lot stronger this time in and her work had been pretty good. She was quite impressive.”
On footing upgraded to Soft6, in the race sponsored by All The News @ Trackside.co.nz, Inspired By Art ran 1200 metres in 1:10.6, last 600m in 34.3 (approx.), and held firm in betting to pay $4.50 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote.
“I said to Nicole (Shailer, assistant trainer) on the way over that I thought she was our best chance and I had a funny feeling she would go really well fresh,” said Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson.
“She’s got a lovely pedigree and the owners have been patient, so it’s all ahead of her.
“She was pretty ready today, because of the weather she’s been in and out of work waiting for better ground and all credit to (track manager) Bart Cowan he’s got the track in wonderful order.
“We ran her in a couple of stakes' races towards the end of her previous campaign and she just weakened off, but I think she’s a black type mare all day, every day.”
From one of the best families in the stud book, Inspired By Art is a direct descendant of New Zealand Broodmare of the Year The Grin (Grosvenor) and The Pixie (Mellay), who also produced Broodmare of the Year The Fantasy (Gatekeeper) - a family synonymous with the Dennis brothers (Tony, Joe, Martin and Ray Dennis) in Woodlands, Southland.
Owned by Geoff and Janetta Taylor, Janine Dunlop, and Gordon Calder, Inspired By Art was bred by Calder in conjunction with Terry Archer, prepared for sale by Dunlop (Phoenix Park), and sold for $130,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 1 Sale.
By 10-time Group One winner So You Think (High Chaparral), who continues to do an outstanding job at stud, Inspired By Art is a three-quarter sister to 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Surround Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) winner La Diosa (So You Think), out of grand-dam Star Affair (Star Way).
It is the family of Champion Three-Year-Old The Jewel (O’Reilly), Group One winning stallion The Chosen One (Savabeel), and former Te Akau trained 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner The Perfect Pink (Savabeel).
“Thanks to Mark (Walker) and Sam (Bergerson) and the team that do such a great job with the horses we’ve in training with them,” Taylor said. “Jenetta and I love the communications.
“There were a few thinking she would need further, and she will get up in trip, but it’s a pretty good sprinter/miler family.”
Inspired By Art was strapped by Murala Mallesh
Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz