Another Two Runners, Two Winners

Ritzy Sparkle (2 f Pins - Kumari, by Zabeel) became the 12^th individual two-year-old winner this season for Te Akau, when taking out the $10,000 Mount Shop 2YO 1200 metres on 4 May at Pukekohe.

The 11^th winner, Grand Ariana (Snitzel), came a day earlier at Waipukurau, to continue a great run for trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards.

“We're thrilled to have a horse in the stable for her breeder and owner, Jim Barlow,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis. “It's the first horse he's given us to train and for her to win first up is a great result. Jim is a top-shelf breeder, he's bred some really good quality horses, including Byzantine who I bought at the (Karaka) sales and he's in a stakes' race tomorrow at Te Rapa, and we're delighted to have horses from his family in the stable.”

Impressively winning a trial by seven and a half lengths on 17 April at Waipa, Ritzy Sparkle was installed $2.10 race favourite on the NZ TAB tote and after racing in second she won narrowly in somewhat dramatic fashion for rider Cameron Lammas.

On slow ground, similar to the trials, she ran the 1200 metres in 1:12.0 and last 600m in 36.0.

“We'd been very happy with her and the work on Tuesday was very good,” Richards said. “She'd obviously trialled well, Opie (Bosson) rode in her work with Grand Ariana, and her form has stacked up with a win.

“She raced kindly outside the leader, looked to travel sweetly, and it's huge to get the win for Jim Barlow and the syndicate that race her. He's a great racing man and his family is going super. Some people might perceive Te Akau as a closed shop, but we really enjoy training horses for breeders, studs, etc, and we get a lot of satisfaction out of attaining good results for them. Dave (Ellis) buys a lot of yearlings and syndicates them, but it's good to also have success with horses that the owners have bred.

“We had her in on Anzac Day at Avondale, but were concerned about how well [eventual winner] Media Sensation was going and it's worked out well that we decided to come here (Pukekohe) instead.

“This filly can only continue to improve and it's great too following the loss of her sire Pins earlier in the week.”

From a Zabeel mare, Kumari, impressive winning over 1600 metres, Ritzy Sparkle is in training for the Jimanda Syndicate. Barlow developed the classy family going back to her grand-dam Vedodara (Kreisler), and the Te Aroha Breeders' Stakes winner Balmacara (Bassenthwaite).

Also, Hawkes Bay Guineas' winner Shastri (Stravinsky), Cuddle Stakes winner Bhandara (Zabeel), and Avondale Cup winner Sharvasti (Montjeu), that in turn has left Baradevi (Volksraad) who produced Te Akau two-year-old winner Byzantine (Savabeel).

More recently, her year older half-sister by Sebring (More Than Ready), Semari, recorded her third win (2000m) from six starts in Australia.

“Semari is actually running in the Oaks tomorrow (Saturday) in Adelaide, and it will be interesting to see whether she can measure up,” said Barlow, during celebrations with other syndicate members in Mount Maunganui.

“I own Ritzy Sparkle and race her with a bunch of friends who haven't raced horses before, and interestingly one of them is Clayton Mitchell (NZ First MP, designated by Winston Peters to assist with the Racing portfolio). They'd been harassing me to race a horse and I thought this filly looked like a good opportunity that I could breed from at a later date.

“With David (Ellis) buying Byzantine, I thought I'd give Ritzy Sparkle to them to train as a way of saying ‘thanks' for their support. And I've had a fair bit to do with David, especially around ways to help the racing industry as he understands the big picture.

“Byzantine looks like quite a serious colt, so it will be interesting to see how he develops, and I think there might be a bit of potential in that broodmare (Baradevi) and Kumari is looking a pretty good mare too.”

Ritzy Sparkle was strapped by Diego Steele.
Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz