Double Delight at Te Aroha

Two wins for the New Zealand stable today (including a quinella in one of those races) ... here is the first ...

Gear changes and maturity paved the way for Gardenier (4 m Rip Van Winkle - Miss Montjeu, by Montjeu) to break through in no uncertain terms on 9 February at Te Aroha.

Drawn barrier one in The Winnie Hannah 100^th Birthday 1400 metres, Gardenier was beautifully poised behind the leaders throughout and after rider Cameron Lammas angled her clear at the 400m she quickly established a winning advantage and won easily by one and three-quarter lengths.

Having trialled well on the course in December, before resuming with a sixth at Rotorua, Gardenier wore a different bit (snaffle instead of a ring bit), visor blinkers off and ear covers on, and the half-sister to multiple stakes performing stable-mate Chambord (Zabeel) showed marked improvement.

“She's a much improved horse this time in,” said Stephen Autridge, who notched his 53^rd win this season with co-trainer Jamie Richards.

“We have got a bit of time for her and I think that next time in she will be even better.  She's a half-sister to Chambord, who finished second in the 2000 Guineas. He continued to get better with time and she will as well.”

Cameron Lammas said: “They went a decent clip for her and can get more ground over a mile. She kicked and did that quite easily."

On footing upgraded after race one to Dead5, Gardenier ran the 1400 metres in 1:24.9, last 600m in 36.6, and returned $6.00 & $2.20 on the tote.

Te Akau principal David Ellis purchased both Chambord and Gardenier as yearlings at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sales in 2012 and 2014, respectively, outlaying $200,000 for each.

She is owned by Dave & Nicky Hurst, Dianne Ford, Jim & Pauline Hepburn, Peter & Jennie Georgetti, Glenn & Cathie Holmes, and David and Matthew Peacocke.

“We are so lucky at Te Akau to have amazing owners,” David Ellis said. “People who understand animals and how they work, and Gardenier has been a very slow maturing filly, yet the owners have been so supportive, have not put pressure on us, given the horse time and I think that the patience is going to be really well rewarded.

“Steve and Jamie told me twelve months ago that she was good filly in the making but still required further strengthening to show her true ability. So as all really good trainers do, they've been patient with her and that patience has paid dividends.

“She's a filly I bought at the Karaka Sale, and like a lot of the Rip Van Winkle fillies, she's just needed time.  I'm thrilled for the owners that they've had such an impressive win today, and there's going to be more to come from this filly.  She's out of a Montjeu mare, a great sire of broodmares, and it's exciting for her future being a half to Chambord.

“Cameron Lammas is a very important member of our team, has plenty of talent and it's great to see him winning races for us,” added Ellis.

Gardenier boasts a tremendous influence of Sadler's Wells (Northern Dancer) in her bloodlines.

Sadler's Wells is second only to Danehill (Danzig) as a sire of stakes winners, with 323 to his name, and also a terrific sire of sires. Gardenier has sire sons Montjeu and Galileo in her pedigree - Galileo is the sire of Rip Van Winkle.

Her grand-dam, Mer Du Sud, by the sire of quality thoroughbreds Bluebird (Storm Bird), has left The Duke (Danehill) who won twice as a two-year-old and proved a top galloper with ten wins in Hong Kong.

Gardenier was strapped by Milou Grylls.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz