Huge Te Akau Night at Ellerslie

Under a majestic ride by James McDonald, Equanimity (3 f More than Ready - Insouciant, by Keeper) ran a terrific race to take out the Pencarrow Stud Special Conditions 1400 metres on Jan. 26 at Ellerslie, during the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting on the eve of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka.

Able to secure a perfect trail from barrier one, McDonald had Equanimity into the clear at the 250 metres and asked to extend she quickened away to win stylishly by one and a half lengths in 1:23.10, last 600m in 34.9, for the 1400 metres.

Having only her second race day outing for New Zealand Bloodstock and Pencarrow Stud principal Sir Peter Vela, who bred and owns the filly, Equanimity had  boomed home from off the pace to score an impressive debut win on Jan. 6 in the Maiden 3YO 1230 metres at Rotorua.

“It was pretty impressive,” said Pencarrow Racing Manager Garry Cossey. “There was good form out of Rotorua, and it followed through to give us confidence for today and she has clearly gone on the right way. She definitely has some gears.

Trainer Jason Bridgman was rewarded for adopting a patient approach with Equanimity and was particularly pleased with her ability to adapt to changes from her debut assignment.

“There were a lot of variables that were new and she overcame them,” said Bridgman. “And you've got to be good to be able to that - up in grade, right-handed, up in distance and a tricky track.
Equanimity is the first foal from the 2008 NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year Insouciant (Keeper) and continues the close association Te Akau and Pencarrow Stud has developed over the years. Headed by the purchasing and training of five time Group One winning stallion Darci Brahma (Danehill), as well as preparing Insouciant to win the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600), Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and finish second in the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) to secure her title.

“I'm absolutely thrilled for Sir Peter,” said Bridgman. “He gave us this lovely filly to train, out of a mare that Mark (Walker) trained to win the 1000 Guineas and on a night that is all about the sales tomorrow it is a fantastic result.

“She was a lot handier over the 1400 metres and travelled quite kindly. I had a little bit of a reservation after coming from a long way back over 1200 metres whether she would finish it off as strong but she certainly stuck to her task and really found the line nicely, and in the end it looked quite soft.

To win a race sponsored by Pencarrow Stud was the perfect start to the evening for Sir Peter Vela, who put the Karaka Million twilight meeting into operation six years earlier.

“It doesn't get any better and it's a lovely way to start the evening,” said Sir Peter. “I always had confidence in it [Karaka Million Meeting] and I really thought there was a place for it in the racing calendar. And, I guess I am pretty chuffed that the judgement was confirmed.

“She [Eqanimity] hasn't always been the easiest and Jason (Bridgman) has done a wonderful job with her. She always showed a lot of ability and continuing on a similar programme she could well be a stakes' horse.

“She can obviously run and everyone that has ridden her early in her preparation has said that,” said Sir Peter. “Shane Dye told me the first time he worked her, “I think you've got a nice Group filly here but I think you will have to patient, the backend of her three-year-old year and leave her in training as a four-year-old and you could win a nice Group race”.

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