4 Win Saturday - Perfection Again
Date: 28 Oct 2024
The second of our four Saturday wins for Te Akau owners came from one of our 'elder statesmen' ... stripped in wonderful order, Perfect Scenario (7 g Iffraaj – Rosetti Bay, by Pins) continued doing what he does best with victory in the $50,000 TAB Mile trial (Open Handicap, 1400m) on Saturday at Riccarton.
Named Champion Miler at the South Island Racing Awards, a day before resuming with victory in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 14 September at Riccarton, Perfect Scenario finished strongly for second on the course after being held up in the Open Handicap 1400 metres a fortnight later, and with four-kilo weight allowance to carry 59kg he rated a top three chance.
Away well to take position outside race favourite Times Ticking who was intent on leading, Perfect Scenario travelled fine and in a race winning move apprentice jockey Amber Riddell (a4) pressed the button to apply pressure with 700m to run.
Inside the 200m, it appeared Perfect Scenario could be at the mercy of those with lighter weights but he responded like the good horse he is to draw out for a convincing two and a half length win.
On footing downgraded to Heavy10, after recording his previous 10 wins (five apiece) on good and soft ground, Perfect Scenario clocked 1:30.6 for 1400 metres and drifted considerably in betting to pay $4.20 & $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote.
“Perfect Scenario, you’d love a stable full of horses like him, whether it’s wet or dry he just gives his best 100-percent of the time,” said co-trainer Mark Walker, from the course.
“He’s a great type of horse for these younger apprentices, just starting out in their careers. He gives them so much confidence and it was lovely to see Amber’s beaming smile coming back to scale.”
Walker said Perfect Scenario would now contest the $250,000 Group 3 TAB Mile 1600m on the middle day of the Cup Carnival (Wednesday 13 November) at Riccarton.
Recording his fourth win on the course, and fourth win over 1400 metres, Perfect Scenario increased his win tally to 11, including dual Group Three wins over 1600 metres at weight-for-age level.
“He’s in, arguably, career best form and he’s just getting better and better with age, and we’re really looking forward to seeing him race over Cup Week,” Walker added.
Perfect Scenario was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $165,000 at 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Woburn Farm, for owners in the Te Akau Perfection Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), and his 11 wins have amassed over $430,000 in prize money.
“He’s been a fantastic racehorse and as a seven-year-old seems to be going as well as ever,” Ellis said.
“He was bred by Liz Pollard and Gloria Graydon and they stayed in for a share. They’re a couple of really good breeders from Te Awamutu, and Liz’s father Joe Pollard was also a good breeder. That family has consistently bred good horses for the last 50 years.
“Amber (Riddell) won on him fresh-up in September at Riccarton, and she gave him another very good ride.
“Her (Amber Riddell) grandparents used to live just down the road from me at Te Akau, and her father Jonathan has ridden a Group One in the tangerine, aboard Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) in the Group 1 Sistema Diamond Stakes 1200m at Ellerslie. In fact that was Fastnet Rock's first ever two year old Group 1 winner anywhere in the world.
“Dummy Myers rang me to see if Amber could come up and work for a month at Te Akau stables in Matamata, and we’re thrilled to give her the chance.
“Jonathan (Riddell) is one of the best riders in New Zealand, in my opinion, so we’re really keen to be involved and support her.”
By incredibly influential international stallion Iffraaj (Zafonic), dam Rosetti Bay (Pins) was an impressive Group Three winner and multiple group placed mare that won eight races and already left very good stakes winning mare Queens Rose (O’Reilly) who also won eight times.
Perfect Scenario was strapped by Hollie Smith.
Photo credit - Akay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz