Couldn't Catch The Chaser

The Chaser (4 g Swiss Ace - Intelligentsia, by Danzero) provided co-trainer Stephen Autridge with his 1000^th New Zealand win on 29 March at Wanganui.

On a sad day for the Autridge family, at the funeral of Gloria Autridge (wife of Bob and mother to Stephen and Toby), the milestone would certainly be a proud moment.

In training for Gerry Harvey (Westbury Stud), The Chaser was breaking through at his fourth start. His consecutive fifths on heavy footing last winter each had merit and after a strong second at the trials in February he resumed with a second in the Maiden 1200 metres on 7 March at Avondale.

The Chaser was ridden by Shafiq Rusof in the $10,000 Cookson Racing Maiden 1200 metres, winning by five lengths, in 1:12.5 on Dead5 footing, and as a dominant favourite he paid $2.00 & $1.30.

In the words of commentator Tony Lee: “Didn't matter, sat wide, kicked and found, on an emotional day for co-trainer Stephen Autridge, with Jamie Richards, but he's done the job brilliantly. He put them away, very nice, and the best part of his race was late when he started to put his head down and stretch out and really put a hole in them”.

“We planned to go forward from barrier 10 and he got caught out three wide, but Shafiq kept him nice and balanced, got into a rhythm and he quickened for an impressive win,” Richards said. “He'd been threatening to do that, but had a few niggling little issues that have taken their time to iron out. Shafiq is riding in terrific form and the stable is going really well. He's a progressive horse and as long as we can keep him sound he's shown he can win more races.

“Obviously it was tough day sending off Steve's mother, Gloria, but for Steve to get his 1000^th winner is really good.”

From the family of NZ Champion 2YO & 3YO and eventual stallion Keeninsky (Stravinsky), his dam, Intelligentsia (Danzero), won three times between 1100m - 1400m in Australia.

“What a thrill it is for Steve to have his 1000^th win today,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis. “It's been an historic day. Karyn and I went to the funeral today for Steve's mum, Gloria, at the Matamata Racecourse, where there was huge crowd to support the family. And for Steve to get his 1000^th shortly afterwards is a terrific effort on such a significant day.

“The two wins yesterday at Matamata took him to 999, and the boys have now trained 62 winners this season, 16 in the last eight weeks, and stable leads the prize money, black type wins, and has the best strike rate (5.77) of the top 10 trainers.

“Westbury Stud's Russell Warwick, one of the best in the business, manages all the racehorses and he always has a couple in training with Te Akau and we love training for them.

“The horse was beautifully ridden by Shafiq. He can really ride and he's going to be a great asset to the New Zealand riding ranks. He's been riding against Joao Moreira, Gerald Mosse, Glen Boss, Michael Rodd, Vlad Duric, Manuel Nunes, in Singapore, all top international jockeys and the experience really shows.”

The Chaser was strapped by Diego Steele.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz