In A Twinkling Completes the Double

Derby runner-up In A Twinkling (4 g Fastnet Rock - Moment in Time, by Archway) caught punters napping on Labour Day at Te Rapa, winning with a defiant performance in the $30,000 NZB Ready to Run Sale Nov. 21 - 22 Rating 82 2100 metres.

Beaten a nostril in the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) before finishing fifth in both the Tulloch Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) at Rosehill, and ATC Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) at Randwick, remarkably, In A Twinkling was only a one-win horse but lumbered with 61-kilos.

“He was very well within himself and it's always a thrill to see a slightly out of form horse come back into form with a win,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis. “He was third-up from a spell, Jamie (Richards) has done a terrific job with him, and for a horse that had only won once previously it was quite incredible where he was at the top of the handicaps.

“He's from the colt barn that Scott Lucock looks after and the team has done a great job getting him back into form.”

In the hands of stable rider Opie Bosson, fresh from finishing third on Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle) in the $5m Cox Plate on Saturday in Melbourne, the intent was clear as In A Twinkling went forward and settled beautifully outside the leader. Able to gain an advantage to the 300m, he really dug in when asked at the 200m and looked in no danger over the concluding stages. 

“He jumped and put himself there and relaxed beautifully,” Bosson said. “He was too good in the end and carried a big weight. Sometimes he can do a few things wrong but he did everything one-hundred percent today. And the track was perfect.” 

Running the 2100 metres in 2:10.1, last 600m in 35.1, on Dead4, the fixed odds return of $13.00 & $3.70 appeared over the odds for a horse of his ability. 

“He's a fair horse when he's right and when he's got his mind on the job, but to be fair when he doesn't get things his own way he can switch off,” Richards said. “I think that was evident (last start) at Hawera. He got a lovely run in the race, but when a horse came around him quickly at the 600m he said ‘I've had enough for today'. 

“I said to Opie, be firm, put him in the race and he controlled the tempo from outside the leader with a big weight. I'm really proud of the horse and he's turned his form around.” 

Richards said cup races were in the offing, and paid homage to Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker for a gear change. 

“He's sporting a new bit of gear that (recent winner) Al Haram wore as well and I'd like to give thanks to Mark Walker for the pointer. The change seems to be effective on some of these tricky horses.”

Owned by the Te Akau Fastnet Moment Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), purchased by David Ellis for $250,000, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, In A Twinkling had notched victory at his second start and took his earnings to $324,526.

His dam, Moment in Time, was a dual Group Three winner, dead-heating in a VRC St Leger, and winning six times from 1400m to 2800 metres. 

Te Akau has had terrific success with the progeny of Fastnet Rock (Danehill), including 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner and stallion Rock ‘N' Pop and Group One winners Heroic Valour, standing at Raheen Stud, Queensland, Age Of Fire, and Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage, who also won the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m).

A part-owner, David Ellis accepted the accolades on behalf of the owners. “We never get tired of winning races and this is probably the best track we've had in the North this season. With the wet spring we've had, all credit goes to the Waikato Racing Club for putting on this track. 

“As is usually the case, when the tracks improve, the form of the Te Akau horses improves because we're not trying to buy wet trackers, or horses that win in the winter, we're trying to buy to classic horses.

“He's a horse that was beaten by a nose in the New Zealand Derby and the barrier staff forgot to put his barrier blanket on. He missed the start by three lengths and then was caught wide for much of the trip, so you'd have to say he was a tragedy beaten.”

In A Twinkling was strapped by Kate Belsham.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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