Riccarton Treble - It's Business Time Goes Bang

A stakes' mare in waiting, It’s Business Time (5 m Turn Me Loose – Risque Business, by Volksraad) rounded out a great 24hrs for the stable with victory in the $40,000 Plough Hotel Rating 75 1200 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

The winner of five from eight, she joined Mazzucato (Tivaci) and Trobriand (Kermadec) as winners at Riccarton, while Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) was a Group One winner on Friday night at Moonee Valley and Rubicon Crossing (Rubick) won on Saturday at Mornington, followed by God's Gift in Singapore.

Having resumed with a three-length victory in the corresponding event on 2 September at Riccarton, It’s Business Time was considered by some commentators the best chance on the programme, a tip vindicated by the four and half lengths' winning margin.

Ridden in accomplished fashion by Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar (a2), who also piloted the winning stable-mates, It’s Business Time camped behind the leaders and once clear in the straight was impressive in the manner of distancing her rivals.

It was clearly the performance of a smart mare and gives rise to stakes assignments.

On footing that remained Heavy10 throughout the day, It’s Business Time ran 1200 metres in 1:12.7 and paid $2.30 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was a great win today,” said co-trainer Mark Walker. “I don’t think she was entirely happy on the track, nevertheless she won really well.

“We can now look for some nice black type opportunities for her. I think Turn Me Loose is a really promising sire, we love the progeny, and this mare still has more improvement to come.”

From a talented Windsor Park Stud family and racing in their colours, It’s Business Time was passed in at the yearling sales and stud master Rodney Schick elected to race her with some friends.

She is raced by V I Curtin, M Delahunty, N D Hewson, C W McArthur, J Ormsby, S P Parham, J Peacocke, C R Scott, J & P Steele, J & R Taylor, and Windsor Park Stud. 

“We’ve had a great association with the Schick family at Windsor Park Stud, and it’s a thrill to be training this very promising mare for Rodney (Schick) and his friends,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM. 

“They’ve had a great day, winning the Arrowfield Stud Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m) today at Hastings with a horse they bred, own, and race with friends, and this mare has capped it off nicely for them.”

The third dam of It’s Business Time, Satirical (Kaapstad), left Champion Filly Star Satire (Volksraad), who was miraculously saved for breeding after breaking a leg, and she in turn left brilliant Australian filly Satin Shoes (Flying Spur) and Zarzuela (Zabeel). 

The latter, Zarzuela, was trained by Mark Walker to win the Great Northern Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m), Waikato Guineas (Gr. 3, 2000m), and Championship Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m), before finishing third in the NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m).

It’s Business Time was strapped by Amit Gujar. 

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