Another Flash Filly

Impressive winning on debut at her previous start, Angelica Hall (3 f Guillotine - Greta Hall, by Kaapstad) produced another classy performance in Coca-Cola Benchmark 65 1200 metres on Dec. 15 at Ellerslie.

Slow through the early stages, Angelica Hall settled seventh and was aided by a quick tempo. She travelled nicely on the bridle, five lengths from the lead at the 600 metres, quickened into a gap at the 300m and once balanced she raced away to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Strongly supported to win, Angelica Hall covered the 1200 metres in a slick time: 1:09.58, last 600 metres in 35.

“She's never been that far back in doing anything before, so it was good to see her relax and she showed a superb turn of foot,” said Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman. “She's got the X factor.

Aboard for first up win over 1200 metres at Matamata, jockey Matt Cameron was again complimentary of the athletic filly. “Wait until she really has to chase one down fifty metres from the post, she'll be at top speed and flying,” said Cameron.

“The speed was on; she relaxed and came back to me and just lobbed along even though they were going quick. She was relaxed in her prelim and very relaxed behind the gates.

Raced by her breeders, Nelson & Rodney Schick, at Windsor Park Stud, 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).

Her dam, Greta Hall, won three stakes races and is a half-sister to Epsom Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Toorak Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Golden Sword (Kaapstad) and the dams of Windsor Park stallion Falkirk and Australian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Royal Descent (Danehill).

“It was an awesome win and it was nice to see her get back and come through them like that,” said Rodney Schick. “I like to see them come from off the pace and she did a great job. It becomes pretty hard off the front once they get up in class, so it's nice to see her able to do that early in her career and Matt (Cameron) did a great job.

“Horses can win off the front in the lower classes but once they start meeting better opponents it only gets harder,” said Schick.

“It is one of the stud's best families and one we've had for a long time and it seems that when you a get a good one from this family they can be very good,” said Schick.

“She is the last foal of Greta Hall, as she died having her, so she is pretty special to us. We're pretty chuffed and Jason (Bridgman) is doing a bloody good job with her.

Schick also mentioned that it had been a very good weekend for their resident sire Guillotine (Montjeu), who only a day earlier sired his first stakes winner when the two-year-old filly Steel Rose won the Wentwood Grange Stakes (Listed, 1100m) on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Te Rapa.

The Bridgman family - Nola, Stacey and Lane - celebrate the win - photo Trish Dunnell