Hastings Double - Splurge Splashes Out

Te Akau Racing celebrated two wins today at Hawkes Bay .... here is the first ...

The fresh up victory by Splurge (4 g Savabeel - Splashing Out, by O'Reilly) could hardly have been more compelling, as he raced clear to win the Dunstan Feeds Rising Stars Championship Rating 75 1200 metres on 12 December at Hastings.

Recording his third win from six starts, having ended his previous campaign winning by over five lengths at Otaki, Splurge always appeared to be travelling like a winner under a polished ride by Michael McNab.

“That was very impressive,” said David Ellis, who purchased the horse as a yearling for the 2014 Te Akau Breeding Syndicate.

“Steve (Autridge) and Jamie (Richards) have done a great job bringing him up this time, as he's a horse we haven't been able to rush and he's not been an easy horse.  Dan Miller, who rides most of his work, has been telling me for a while how good the horse is and how well he's been coming up.

“The horse is owned by the Breeding Syndicate that owns Xtravagant, Beacon of Hope and Rocksun. So I bought four horses for them and they've all won.”

With previous wins over a mile, and 1400 metres respectively, Splurge showed the benefit of maturity when beginning well before steadying to fifth on the inner. McNab was able to extract from the rail at the 700m, camped on the leaders turning for home and he raced clear after being shown the shillelagh at the 200m.

“I loved the way that Michael McNab changed the whip over,” Ellis said. “He went from the right to the left, and back to the right, and it showed something that all jockeys have got to be able to do today.”

On Dead4 footing, Splurge ran the 1200 metres in 1:11.7, winning by two and a quarter lengths, and paid $6.90 & $3.00 on the tote.

In pre-race discussions, Richards had told McNab to be ‘open-minded when the gates opened', on a day when the winning pattern was generally contained by the first five in running.

“He's not a horse you want to dig and get up over-racing because he can overdo things when he wants to,” Richards said.

“He trialled well the other day and form out of that is good,” said Richards, relating to his run for third, with McNab aboard, behind Group One winner Perfect Fit (Elusive City) and subsequent winner Sultan of Swing (Bachelor Duke) over 935 metres at Cambridge.

“We were happy with him, his work had been spot on and he's a pretty exciting galloper.  Obviously, he was bought to be a stallion but had a couple of little things going on and congratulations to the owners for making the right decision and hopefully they're going to reap the rewards.

“I thought Michael rode him super, gave him every chance, came out at the right time and really pleased with the way he quickened up.

“There is a bit improvement (to come), he's a beautiful horse and on the way up.  He is nominated for the Rising Stars (Championship) and a pretty progressive horse in our minds anyway.”

McNab said, on dismounting: “Jamie, Steve, Dan, and the boys at home have done a super job with him.

“He was electric when he let down today and he put them away pretty quick."

Bred at Waikato Stud, at the time of purchase he was the highest priced lot achieved at Karaka by Waikato Stud and Mark Chittick had said: “He's a special horse, all over: pedigree, type, attitude, everything.

“He is a real standout and it is probably the most we had ever paraded a horse, such was the interest in him. There was a lot of competition for him in the ring and we're rapt he's gone to such a good home."

His dam, Splashing Out, commenced her racing career with a hat-trick of wins, culminating in the Thoroughbred Club (Gr. 3, 1200m) at Caulfield, before finishing second in the Ascot Vale (Gr. 1, 1200m) at Flemington.

At stud, she has already left five time winner Shopaholic (Pins), successful in the Vanity Stakes (Gr. 3, 1410m) at Flemington, and the Armanasco Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) at Caulfield. Along with debut winner Spending (Pins).

Splurge is from one of Waikato Stud's most potent and current families including quadruple Group One winner Sacred Falls (O'Reilly), who won the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), AJC Doncaster (Gr. 1, 1600m) twice, and George Main Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m).

Splurge was strapped by Wiremu Pinn.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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