Mr Bojangles - He Danced

At first sighting of the tangerine Te Akau colours this season in the South Island, Bojangles (6 g Roc de Cambes - Stever House, by El Gran Senor) provided an emphatic victory in the $10,000 Quigley Contracting Rating 65 1600 metres on 30 August at Ashburton.

Owned by Bill & Sandra Duell,
who raced multiple stakes performer and 12-time winner Natuzzi (Coats Choice)
with Paul Richards, Bojangles brought consistent form from the North, had been
a winner on slow footing, and registered due reward under a good ride by
Michael McNab.

From eighth in running and seven
lengths astern at the 600m, McNab seized a gap to the inside of runners at the
300m and Bojangles quickened through to put his opposition away.

On Slow7 footing, he ran the mile
in 1:40.9 and returned $3.00 & $1.40 (fixed odds) as race favourite on the
NZ TAB.

“His form up North had been very
good and to be fair it was a slight drop in class,” said Paul Richards,
overseeing the horses for son and trainer Jamie Richards. “He got the job done
and it was a nice ride from Michael.

“Michael knows what he's doing.
He's been around long enough and he just rode him a treat.

“He's a horse that likes his
races spaced a wee bit and hopefully capable of working his way through the
grades down here. So, in three or four weeks we'll find another suitable race
for him somewhere.”

Jamie Richards said: “It's always
a big thrill to win a race for Bill and Sandra (Duell). Obviously, I've had a
lot to do with them over the years as family friends and owners of Natuzzi and
other horses that they've had with dad, and we value their ongoing support.”

Bojangles was strapped by Naomi
Warrander.

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