Chelsea You Champ

Now the winner of two from four starts, Lady Zeraph (4 m Makfi - Zatiger, by Zabeel) resumed with a nail-biting victory in the $10,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 1350 metres on 27 September at Waipukurau, and provided Te Akau apprentice Chelsea Burdan (18) with a winning first ride.

Eligible for the Pearl Series, having been nominated when purchased at Karaka, Lady Zeraph also collected an $11,500 bonus.

Lady Zeraph ended her previous campaign with a win in April at Waipa, and Burdan had been aboard for each of her two recent trials.

“It was great first up run by that mare and it's always a big thrill to give an apprentice their first winning ride,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis. “I've given at least fifteen apprentices their first winning ride and it's a day they never forget.

“Opie (Bosson) took Chelsea down to the mechanical horse this morning and gave her a few tips, with our other apprentice, Nik Bakar (7 wins from 14 rides), and his help along with Suppy (Shafiq) is instrumental in the success, as is the tuition from Paul Richards, who was a top jockey and also the Riding Master in the South Island.”

Away well and able to slot in fifth, chasing a torrid pace, Lady Zeraph was held together by Burdan around the home turn, balanced up, and responded to urging on the shoulder for a nose margin victory.

On (Slow9) footing worse than she appreciates, Lady Zeraph ran the 1400 metres in 1:26.2 and paid $4.70 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB tote. Interestingly, she had recorded a tidy third on the same course, over a mile, prior to winning.

“It was an awesome result,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “The mare has a pretty good record, now. Her trials were okay, but she saves her best for race day, when she gets the blinkers on. She's an improving mare that we've been able to take along quietly, with the blessing of the owners Linda Buttle, and her husband Michael, and Maddie their daughter, and she will continue developing into a lovely staying mare in the future.

“Chelsea is a young woman that worked hard through the winter for us and has a good future in the game. She is well schooled through the pony club arena, went to the local high school in Matamata, and signed on to become an apprentice with Te Akau.

“Our apprentices are going well, as too the horses, and I thought Chelsea rode a really nice race. She jumped well, got back in behind to get some cover, waited until she straightened up and never gave up in the run home, up the long straight at Waipukurau.”

Lady Zeraph was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis for $120,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, from the draft of Wellfield Stud, who raced her dam, Zatiger (Zabeel), an impressive three-time winner over a mile that in turn has left Billy Britain (One Cool Cat), a winner of eight races up to 2200 metres in Singapore, and Tiger Tim (Alamosa) with four wins to a mile in New Zealand, and a winner since over 2000 metres in Australia.

“I've always liked this mare,” Ellis said. “I bought her off a friend I very much respect, Bill Gleeson, from Wellfield, and I think she's going to win a lot more races. It was her first up run today and she's bred to stay.

“Where Jamie (Richards) was very smart, was after she won as a three-year-old he gave her time to mature and develop. She's come up really well and being out of a Zabeel mare is a big help.

“I bought this filly at the Premier Sale and told Jamie when I bought her that she had all things I liked in a horse. I knew she would take some time, but I'm thrilled for Linda Buttle. She's a fantastic lady to train for. She and her daughter Maddie love their horses and it's great to see the success that they're getting, and we've got some really nice horses still to race for them.

“I bought a lovely Sacred Falls (O'Reilly) colt for her this year at Karaka, a three-quarter brother to Brutal (O'Reilly), who has since won three out of three in Australia. He's broken in beautifully and all the reports on the Sacred Fall's are very encouraging.”

Ellis also informed of the moves by Richards, who was hospitalized a fortnight ago, before saddling four winners last weekend, including Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage (Fastnet Rock), winning fresh-up in the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m), and former Champion Two-Year-Old Melody Belle (Commands) in the Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m).

“Today (Thursday), Jamie went down to the South Island, inspecting the horses we've got stabled at Riccarton, and he reported to me that they're absolutely thriving, as they normally do,” he said.

“And to see Jamie start his career so well is just fantastic. He's leading the premiership with 17 wins, including two Group 1's amongst four stakes wins, and it's great for all the owners, staff, and the whole Te Akau team.”

The pedigree of Lady Zeraph has a lovely cross of Sir Ivor, sire of legendary stallion Sir Tristram, on the dam side of Makfi (Dubawi), and through Zabeel on the sire line of Zatiger.

Lady Zeraph was strapped by Meg Lambert.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz