Bindi Weaves her Magic

Spellbinder (4 m O'Reilly - Scenic Sprint) appeared back to her best with a resounding win in the aptly named Race-A-Horse with Te Akau 1400 metres on Saturday 14 March at Te Rapa.

Known to us all as "Bindi" and owned by the Te Akau Spellbinder Syndicate (managed by David Ellis), Spellbinder had indicated that a solid campaign lay in waiting when she resumed off 189-days with a big performance for second to Recite (Darci Brahma) over 1200 metres, run in track record time (1:08.14), at Matamata.

She faced only four opponents for the Open 1400 metres, in what promised to be a tactical affair and was ably handled by stable rider Cameron Lammas. Tucked away in fourth for a majority of the trip, Lammas had Spellbinder coast up to join in three wide on straightening and after gaining ascendency at the 300m she showed her class when asked for her best inside the 200m to gallop clear of some talented rivals.

Her opposition included the classy Sports Illustrated who on this very track had won the highly rated Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes in December - and has a pending Australian campaign ahead of her.

The overall time was solid: 1:22.0 with the final 600m in 35.5 on footing rated Dead4. Starting second favourite behind Sports Illustrated (Fast ‘n' Famous), Spellbinder returned $3.00 & $1.70.

“She was nicely in at the weights (54kgs) and it was a very good win,” said Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman. “Her first up performance was very encouraging and we were quietly confident of a big effort from her.

“We were fortunate that it was race one of the day, as the track had a really nice bit of cushion and she let down beautifully,” he said.

The winner of five from eleven starts, including the Soliloquy Stakes (Listed, 1400m) and Karaka 3YO Mile (Listed, 1600m). Spellbinder finished third in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and second in the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m).

Spellbinder has certainly been a terrific advertisement for the bloodstock buying eye of Te Akau principal David Ellis, who purchased her for $60,000 at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud.   Spellbinder has now won $190,435 in prizemoney for her devoted owners.

“She's a beautifully balanced filly and has already performed at the highest level,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis.

Bridgman now has his sights set on the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) on April 4 at Te Aroha, and Easter Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) a fortnight later at Ellerslie, where Spellbinder looks to have very good chances based on her exploits this time in and that as a four-year-old she has taken on another maturity dimension in her development.

“She looks right on target, now, for these races and up to a mile is her pet trip,” said Bridgman.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz