Amperage Ambles Home

It was déjà vu after winning the first race with Cathedral Cove (Zabeel) on Thursday at Wairoa, when Amperage (3 g Zabeel - Miss Zapper, by Red Ransom) delivered in the first race on Sunday at Wairoa.

Having raced quite keenly with blinkers on a week earlier at Gisborne, and again on the first day of the meeting at Wairoa, a gear change to remove blinkers made the world of difference and he travelled comfortably at the head of affairs throughout in the $10,000 Maiden 2100 metres.

Well rated in front by Cameron Lammas, Amperage snuck clear with a rival passing the 600m and came away inside the final furlong to win easing down by one and a half lengths.

After two seconds, the win was just reward for the Te Akau 2014 Cups Syndicate (Mgr: David Ellis). Amperage ran the 2100 metres in 2:11.3, last 600m in 35.9, returning $5.00 & $1.60 on the tote and more lucrative $7.00 & $1.90 fixed odds.

“Cam (Lammas) rode him super and he didn't overdo things today, and when he was taken on at the 600 metres he really found a kick, so it was a good win,” said co-trainer Jamie Richards, who prepares the horse in partnership with Stephen Autridge.

“Matt (Cameron) gave us some good feedback on Thursday, and said ‘take the hood off' as he was overdoing things a little bit.

“I thought when I got down here he had tightened up a bit and the staff that have been down here have done a great job with him.

“He's another nice horse bought by Dave (Ellis) at Karaka, and he's in a really good syndicate with Zambezi Warrior, so it's good for the owners,” said Richards.

Amperage is a horse with fantastic temperament and demeanour, and should take plenty of confidence from the victory to continue delivering on his staying potential.

At the time of purchase for $150,000 at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, Ellis said: “It is a family that has its share of speed on the dam side, but primarily there are a good amount of middle distance horses throughout the pedigree”.

Amperage is from a mare (Miss Zapper) that won on debut over 1200 metres in Melbourne, and registered three wins up to 1900 metres, and overseeing him as a young horse prompted Ellis to buy his half-sister by Stravinsky (Nureyev) for $75,000 the following year at Karaka.

Named Zip Zap, she is ready to have her first trial on February 22 at Matamata.

Both horses were bred by Dan Myers, and when buying the filly Ellis said: “She is another horse produced by terrific breeder Dan Myers and when we inspected her we decided she was a filly we had to have. She is a quality filly and a gift at the money.” 

Amperage was strapped by Gary Ritchie.

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