Bordeaux Brilliant Back to Back

Showing to have derived plenty of benefit from his resuming win, Bordeaux (4 g High Chaparral - Our Echezeaux, by Zabeel) mastered a rise in grade and under a well judged ride by Matt Cameron took out the First National Mills & Gibbon Rating 65 1800 metres on 3 December at New Plymouth.

Wisely scratched by trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards when rain downgraded the track to Dead6 on 20 November at New Plymouth, Bordeaux entered the fray twenty-five days since leading throughout over a mile at Hastings, and the same tactics did the trick again.

After crossing to secure an uncontested lead at the post with a lap to run, Bordeaux appeared to relish his work at the head of affairs and travelled easily. Turning for home with an advantage, he found a length when quickening a furlong out and saw off a rival to win with more in hand.

Having scored earlier aboard the debutante Red Poppy (Iffraaj), the win aboard Bordeaux was a great way for jockey Matt Cameron to end the day; before boarding a plane to ride on Friday at Riccarton, and then home via a group one race day on Saturday at Trentham.

“It was a great win,” said Cameron. “He's obviously a nice horse and we know he's always had it [ability] ther, but it's been getting it out of him. I think the penny has finally dropped and he's a happy horse.

“Da Shindig came up on his inside near the line and touched his backside and he kicked again, so he did is easily in the end. He got a fright and took off.

“He travelled nice and strong and he was certainly happy doing his work in front. He gives a good feel and I can see him stepping up to race at Saturday meetings."

Bred by Sir Peter Vela and the late Philip Vela, Bordeaux was purchased by David Ellis from the Pencarrow Stud draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale for $620,000 and has recorded two wins from five starts for the Te Akau 2013 Breeding Syndicate.

“We've tried to ride races in behind on him before,” said Cameron, “and he never showed a lot of confidence but he's a different horse now with a couple wins under his belt. He's leading, he's happy and although you wouldn't change it immediately, he should also be able to settle amongst them in time."

Bordeaux notched the 38^th win for the season to keep the Autridge & Richards training partnership in front on the premiership table.

Following the win, Jamie Richards said: “It was a very special win on a day when one of his owners, Tony Ellis and his family and friends were saying their farewells following the loss of Tony's wife Marlene. They are good friends and popular owners and we had many other co-owners in Bordeaux who could not attend the races as they wanted to be with Tony and his family on this difficult day.

“So, it was a very fitting win on a tough day for Tony and his family,” said Richards.

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