Aspen - Seven Wins in Six Days

Aspen (3 c Alamosa - Kirin Belle, by McGinty) continued the trend of three-year-old debutante winners for Te Akau, when beating a promising field of youngsters in the www.loganracing.co.nz over 1400 metres on Saturday Sept. 14 at Ruakaka.  A race that also delivered a stable quinella with King Savinsky running into second.

A half-brother to impressive 1400-metre winning mare Our Ella Belle (Encosta De Lago), and multiple stakes performer Winning Belle (Zabeel), Aspen showed in drawing away by two-and-a-quarter lengths that he has a bright future.

Paying $10.10 & $3.10 on the NZ TAB, Aspen ran the 1400 metres in 1:25.15 on footing upgraded from Dead6 to Dead4 throughout the day.

“I was a little bit surprised he showed the tow in the early stages that he did,” said Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman. “But, Matt (Cameron) said he was quite keen going to the start and obviously the prelim can tell you a bit about a horse. He slid across from gate ten and Matt didn't have to move on him. So, not having really worked to be outside the leader he got their easily and he's a colt with a lovely action.

“He'll keep getting better with time, more of an autumn three-year-old, so what he has shown today is that he is a colt with good ability,” said Bridgman.

Syndicated as part of four colts comprising the Te Akau 2012 Breeding Syndicate (all purchased as potential stallion prospects), managed by Te Akau principal David Ellis, Aspen along with King's Rock (Fastnet Rock) and Wolfwhistle (O'Reilly) all won during the week, while Dane's Anatomy (Danehill Dancer) finished second in his trial on Sept. 10 at Cambridge.

“I've always thought Aspen was a pretty smart horse,” said Ellis. “And, when I saw him being broken in I liked him so much that I sent eleven mares to his sire Alamosa (O'Reilly). So, it's a big result and if there is ever a horse that looks capable of winning black type races then it will be him.

“We (Te Akau's Mark Walker) trained his half-sister Our Ella Belle (Encosta De Lago) and she was desperately unlucky not to win the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m),” said Ellis. “James McDonald was crying afterwards. She was raced by Peter and Philip Vela and this [Aspen] is another good horse that we have bought from Pencarrow Stud.

“It was the eleventh win for Jason (Bridgman) this season and his 3.4 strike rate is really hard to achieve, especially as in some races we're running two horses,” said Ellis.

At the time of purchase for $170,000 at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, David Ellis said of Aspen: “Mark (Walker) and I thought he was one of Pencarrow's best colts, from a great winning family."

Outside the winner of the race, Aspen, his stable-mate King Savinsky (Savabeel) produced an enormous performance under Michael Dee for second. Awkwardly away to settle a clear last in the field of twelve, he was hardly in picture shot when ten lengths off the lead at the 600 metres but weaved through powerfully to grab his placing.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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