Motivated to Win

Smart at the trials, Motivation (3 g Mastercraftsman - Tenacity, by Zabeel) justified his favouritism on debut with a win in the $10,000 Continuous Stainless Steel Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 14 November at Te Aroha.

And just like his winning stable-mate, Gris Dame (Reliable Man), in the race beforehand, he is another that boasts a good level of quality depth in his family.

Bred and owned by Christopher Grace QSM, his dam, Tenacity (Zabeel), won five races to 1400 metres and a half-sister to Wellington Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Graphic (Volkraad), out of the impressive five time winner and stakes placed mare Titanium (Kingdom Bay).

“Motivation was a horse I was bidding on at Karaka, and went to around $170,000 on him, but Christopher Grace passed him in,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis.

“I went and asked Christopher if we could train him and he said that we most certainly could, and I'm just thrilled to have won another race for those fantastic colours.  Christopher and Susanna Grace are two of the very best people you could ever train for, they really are, and they breed good, sound, horses.

“We've got a lot of horses in our stable with their XX brand. This year we bought their O'Reilly filly, named Dublin Rose, and she has finished second at her only start. She is out of Irish Dream, a full-sister to Shillelagh and Grazia, so there is a lot of fun to be had with that filly.”

Very much inform, following his victory on emerging Te Akau star colt Embellish (Savabeel) in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Saturday at Riccarton, rider Opie Bosson gave Motivation a gun run in the trail. The pairing was poised around the home turn, clear to challenge at the 350m and after leading without being extended to the 200m he had plenty left to defy a late challenge.

“He did everything right and put himself in the race,” Bosson said. “He travelled beautifully and lived up to his good looks.”

Motivation had looked good at the trials, with a second and first respectively, and the horse he finished second to at Te Teko, The Great Southern (Jimmy Choux), was a stylish debut winner over 1200 metres in October at Te Aroha, before finishing second in a stronger field at Tauranga, so the form around him was strong and hence the reasons punters rocked his price with some big bets to return $2.60 & $1.35 fixed odds and less ($2.30 & $1.30) on the NZ TAB tote.

The 1400 metres was run in the 1:25.3, last 600m in 35.2, with Motivation winning by a narrow but confidently ridden neck margin.

“We've liked him for awhile and he looks a very exciting horse going forward,” said Jamie Richards, who co-trains with Stephen Autridge.

“Obviously, we had Shillelagh for Christopher and Susanna before she went to Chris Waller and duly got a Group One win over there (Australia) and Grazia, the sister in our stable, is also doing a great job for their breed.”

Motivation has a lovely staying pedigree, so getting the job done first up over 1400 metres speaks volumes for his sheer athleticism and a terrific result when considering where his future lies.

Two wins on the programme took the Te Akau trainers into second place on the premiership, with 27 wins this season.
Motivation was strapped by Raj Rasheed, who only recently has also strapped winners Royal Success (Savabeel) and Mongolianconqueror (Ocean Park).

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz