No Sweat for Alminette

Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were on the board early when Alminette (5 m Burgundy – High Heels, by High Chaparral) won the $40,000 Rating 65 1200 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

Showing a liking for the poly track when spearing through stylishly to win a trial on 16 July, Alminette did well from a wide draw (13) when resuming on 7 August at Riccarton, to form the trifecta behind stable-mates French Rose (Burgundy) and Angels Wings (Heroic Valour), and rated a top three chance from barrier four.

Away smartly for apprentice jockey Lily Sutherland (a1) to settle in the trail, Alminette was out in time once straightened for the run home and kept quickening to rundown pacemaker Jack Attack. 

“It was really good to see her win again today, the owners have been really patient and it was a very satisfying win,” Walker said.

“She’s always been knocking on the door, but she's been unlucky with wide draws, and placed a lot of times. However she’s stronger now after spelling really well at Te Akau Stud, and it was a nice ride of Lily’s.

“With that win, which can quite often give horses the confidence going forward, and I think with that win under her belt we’ll see a lot more of her in the winner’s circle this season.

In the race named CJC Stallion Tender Open Now, Alminette ran 1200 metres in 1:10.8 and shortened in betting to pay $3.10 & $1.40. 

Owned by the Te Akau Running In Heels Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Alminette was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $52,500 at the 2021 Karaka Book 2 Sale, on account of Sunlight Trust, from a classy family bred by Paddy Preston of Mills Reef Winery.

The family has left precocious and classy performers, mainly fillies, with the ability to win over a wide range of distances. 

Alminette is the fifth individual winner for High Heels, whose progeny have won from 1200m to 2200m, while grand-dam Wave To Lottie (Crested Wave) left Group One winner Veloce Bella (Volksraad), who won 12 races and became a very good producer including Group Three winner Walking Flying (Tavistock). 

“Aliminette is another classic example of a mare that we’ve given time, not dissimilar to a couple of our very best mares, Melody Belle and Avantage, who showed ability to win as young horses but really hit their straps as five and six-year-olds when they were fully matured,” Ellis said. 

“Although she’s just winning her second race, after winning as a three-year-old and finishing third in the Listed Warstep Stakes over 2000m at Riccarton, she’d really been a model of consistency with 10 placed runs and three fourths from 18 starts and she’s certainly got the ability to win more races.

“She’s a very well put together mare, with beautiful balance, and given she’s out of mare by the great stallion High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) she was very good value when we bought her.”

Alminette was strapped by Ashlyn Lee. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz