Angelica's Impressive Debut

Doing everything as though she belonged at the races, Angelica Hall (3 f Guillotine - Greta Hall, by Kaapstad) repeated a family tradition when recording an impressive debut win on Nov. 21 at Matamata.

Beautifully presented by Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman, Angelica Hall cruised to the start in effortless fashion and remained relaxed before entering the gates.

Jockey Matt Cameron found Angelica Hall a nice spot in fifth from barrier three and she approached the home turn with plenty to offer. She took control as she liked passing the 300 metres and strode clear to win impressively by 2.75 lengths. 

In clocking 1:10.57 for the 1200 metres she emulated the feat of her dam Greta Hall who also won impressively by 2.5 lengths over 1200 metres at the corresponding meet in November 1997.

“She's a lovely filly and we are very lucky that Windsor Park has entrusted her to us to train, and certainly the stock of Gullotine (Montjeu) are absolutely flying and he looks a promising stallion,” said Bridgman.

“We were quietly excited amongst ourselves to be sitting on this filly over the winter months and we had a plan to give her a good, long spell; not rush her back in the early spring and I think she is going to be a very progressive filly that will get her chance at black type later on.

“She is a lovely filly to work with and showing a turn of foot like that she will go on to better races and bigger things, so it's exciting,” said Bridgman.

Having won each of her three trials, including one on the home track at Matamata, Angelica Hall was able to get her head down and quicken off a nice tempo.

“She jumped and put herself in a nice possie,” said jockey Matt Cameron. “She sat in behind them, cruised up and ran away with it. She was still a bit green, wanted to travel a touch hard but she has learnt a hell of a lot and once she gets up against better horses she will be better for it.

“I knew I had plenty of horse underneath and when I gave her one flick she just ran away,” said Cameron. “She's got a lovely big stride and will get better and better.

Angelica Hall sports the quality of a terrific Windsor Park family: Balmoral Keep (Balmerino), Falkirk (Tale of the Cat), Golden Sword (Kaapstad), Madam Valeta (Palace Music), and Mulan Princess (Kaapstad), stemming from the broodmare sensation Lovenvain (Vain), and it was an added bonus to have Sue Schick and Rodney Schick present for the win.

“She has a lot of Montjeu about her - plenty of leg and she is very athletic,” said Sue Schick taking in the filly after the race, while Rodney Schick said: “She is a very special filly to us because she is the last foal of Greta Hall."

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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