Flying at Te Rapa

Capitalising on two recent trial victories, Alchemy's Flight (3f Darci Brahma - Eloa, by Volksraad) also recorded success on debut when keeping up a resolute gallop in the Te Akau Racing Salutes Dave Smith over 1200 metres on Sept. 11 at Te Rapa.

Bagging his third win on the eight race card, jockey Matt Cameron had the filly away nicely from a wide draw to settle outside the leader. Alchemy's Flight travelled on the bridle to the home turn, quickened to lead 300 metres out and saw off a late challenge to win by a nose in 1:12.42 for the sprint trip on Slow7 footing.

“What I was worried about did pan out from the wide gate,” said Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman. “She over-raced early, worked quite hard when being held out four wide and that just started to pay over the concluding stages but she showed enough grit to hang on. So under the circumstances it was a very good win.

“She's been a raw talent and just needs to learn to switch off a bit more before she takes the next step, but when she does I think she will progress into a lovely filly. I'd like to think she would be up to stakes' races once she adapts and her racing manners come into place, there is no reason she couldn't progress to that.

“She has a lot to learn, but barrier draws are a key to educating young horses and she couldn't do a lot more than what she had to do from out there today."

Matt Cameron said: “She got there quite easily and did travel a bit aggressively when we weren't going overly fast, but the wind is stirring them up. Once she steps through the grades and has better horses to sit in behind and chase down it will be better for her."

“Her mother [Eloa] ran second in a stakes' race on debut and this filly has gone one better,” said Sam Williams, from Little Avondale Stud, who bred and races Alchemy's Flight in the LA Stud North and South Syndicate. “It's great stuff because we have quite a few first time owners in her and it's fantastic for them as well. It's nice to get that first win on the board."

In a short career, Eloa was a dual stakes' winning filly of the Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Ellerslie and backed up her autumn victory with a fresh up win in the Highview Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) during the 2004 spring carnival at Hastings.

“I think Eloa has every chance to make it as a very good broodmare,” said Williams. Alchemy's Flight is her third to the races for three winners and unfortunately we lost a brother to Alchemy's Flight, who was an outstanding looking colt. I've got an O'Reilly two-year-old filly here in the paddock and a Zabeel colt going to the [NZB] sales and she's just a mare I've got a lot of time for. She still holds the second fastest time over 1200 metres at Hawkes Bay, and she's a mare from one of the good Te Parae Stud families that Buzz (Williams) has had for a long time.

“In short, she's from the same family as Alamosa and Lights of Heaven. Lights Of Heaven is out of a sister to Eloa, I'm In Heaven, and Eloa's mother [Logical Miss] is a sister to Alamosa's mother [Lodore Mystic],” said Williams.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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