Burgundy Rose Blooming Lovely - Four Win Saturday

Making it two from her last three, Burgundy Rose (5 m Burgundy - Paraiba, by Faltaat) recorded a last stride victory in the $40,000 JCE Construct Open 1200 metres on Saturday at Otaki.

After running an unofficial track record winning a Rating 74 1215 metres on 6 January at Rotorua, and being freshened, she quickened easily to win a trial on 28 January at Ellerslie, before tying up late on slow ground in a Rating 74 1200 metres on 12 February at Te Rapa, won by stable-mate Lightning Field (Deep Field).

Up in grade but down in weight to carry 55kg, Burgundy Rose travelled back by design from barrier 10. Chasing a genuine tempo and seven lengths of the lead at the 600m, she cruised into contention rounding the home turn and sustained a big finish for jockey Kozzi Asano to grab a nose margin victory.

On Dead4 footing, she ran 1200 metres in 1:09.7 and drifted in betting from fixed odds $6.50 & $2.30 to return $8.10 & $2.50 on NZ TAB tote.

“She stepped a bit slow, but we were quite keen to ride her differently there today,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “Recently, after being a touch slow, she'd been working to get on speed, but she did too much last time out and the wet track probably didn't help her either at Te Rapa.

“However she stripped a lot fitter today, got into a good rhythm off a hot speed and was given a really nice ride. She popped out at the right time, was there on the corner, and had the momentum up.

“I was very pleased with how she won and she deserves it. She's a good, tough, genuine sort of mare, and we'll probably look to give her a crack at black type.”

Richards suggested the $60,000 Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m) as a target on Oaks Day (19 March) at Trentham.

Bred by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNMZ, Burgundy Rose continued a great run for Burgundy (Redoute's Choice), purchased as a yearling by Ellis before winning five stakes' races, and his homebred fillies.

Burgundy three-year-old Belle En Rouge (ex. Cavendish Belle, by Thorn Park) produced a terrific third to stable-mate The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) - providing a Te Akau first four - during Cup Week at Riccarton, before winning both the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m). Debutante winner Maven Belle (2 f Burgundy - Doyenne, by Kilimanjaro) made it two from two in 2YO Classic (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Legends Day (12 Feb.) at Te Rapa (and went three from three later on the Matamata programme when winning the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2 1200m).

Displaying her versatility, Burgundy Rose has now won seven races at different venues: Taupo, Wingatui, Trentham, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Rotorua and Otaki, for Te Akau Roses Are Red Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“It's incredible the run Burgundy is having as a sire and he's a hell of a loss to the industry,” Ellis said.

“It was a terrific performance by Burgundy Rose, after getting back and circling around a pretty smart field of open handicap sprinters. The way she's racing, hopefully we can find a nice race for her to get some black type.

“The home bred fillies that we're syndicating are performing really well and I'm so proud of them. It's a special thrill to breed a horse and have our owners enjoying the success.

“Our assistant trainer Sam Bergerson has taken the horses down there today, overseeing the team, and he's doing a terrific job for us.”

Burgundy Rose was strapped by Lydia Truesdale.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz