A "Step" Ahead of Them ...

Like the best of good things, Military Step (3 g Tavistock - Marching On, by Pentire) recorded an easy victory in the $10,000 Lisa Latta Racing Stables Maiden High-weight 1600 metres on 4 April at Wanganui.

Backed as nigh unbeatable, the $2.10 win dividend appeared generous given the five and a half lengths margin Military Step had on his rivals at the line. First away from the gates for rider Ryan Elliot, he steadied to track the leader inside the 1200m and it looked obvious when taking command on straightening that he would take a power of beating. And the margin increased the further he went.

For Elliot (20), an accomplished
young rider, it was success at his first donning of the tangerine colours and
for trainer Jamie Richards.

Commentator Tony Lee said: “Good
day for Ryan Elliot, with more good rides to come, he stalked the pace, took
over, and from there it was a scrap for the minors. He really put them away in
style”.

Military Step clocked 1:38.7 for
1600 metres on Dead5 footing.

After finishing strongly for
third on debut over 1200 metres in February at Wairoa, and solid again through
the line for third in the Maiden 1400 metres on 17 March at Woodville, it was a
case of third time lucky for owners in the Te Akau Quick March Syndicate (Mgr:
Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

For Richards, the win (his 10^th
in the past fortnight) put him one off the premiership leader with his 87^th
victory for the season and a sharp strike rate of 4.6.

“It was a nice win and he's a
horse that's been building towards that,” Richards said. “He's needed plenty of
time to strengthen and mature, but going the right way now and a horse that
Dave (Ellis) bought relatively cheaply as a yearling out of the (NZB) Premier Sale.

“He's shaping as a type that can
go on with it next season as a four-year-old and the way that he won suggests
he'll win more.

“He has a good group of patient owners, the team at home has done a really good job getting him to the races in such good order and although not the easiest - he's got his quirks - he is going well.”

Purchased by David Ellis for
$62,500 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the
draft of Seaton Park, he is the first foal of talented race mare Marching On
(Pentire). A racehorse with very good ability, she impressed with an excellent
turn of foot when winning three times up to 1200 metres.

While his dam showed brilliance
over shorter trips, Military Step illustrated by winning over 1600 metres that
he has the pedigree and physique to get further. His sire, Tavistock, is
clearly the best sire son of Montjeu at stud in New Zealand, and dam-sire
Pentire (Be My Guest) has left Group One sprint winners right through to a
Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner. A cross of immortal stallion Northern Dancer in
his sire lines also adds to the stamina in his pedigree.

“He was an absolute steal at the
price,” Ellis said. “We kept a close eye on his dam, she had plenty of speed
and ability to accelerate and we love buying first foals because we've had so
much success with them. Darci Brahma, too, was a first foal and he won five
Group Ones before becoming a Champion sire.

“This boy vetted very cleanly, moved well, and as a yearling he was a classic example of his sire Tavistock.”

Military Step was strapped by Alexis White.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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