Second Matamata Win - Astrid

Narrowly beaten on debut in January, Astrid (3 f Pins - Astralita, by Kenny's Best) resumed off 50-days with a gutsy performance for second last time out and capped her solid form to win at just her fourth start on April 1 at Matamata.

Away well to land second, Astrid was steadied by jockey Matt Cameron to fourth at the 700m, travelled on the bridle before ranging four wide rounding the home bend and out after the leader at the 200m she got away over the final stages to register a strong performance.

“She does everything right and the way she did it today was quite impressive,” said Cameron. “She got off the fence, stalked the leader and kicked away with it.

“She's really been quite progressive this time in,” said trainer Jason Bridgman. “She was quite green and wayward early in the piece, doing a few things wrong, but once we put the blinkers on in the last two starts she hasn't looked back.

“In the form she's in we may look for another run or two yet, this time in. There's no reason not to, as she's a good, strong, sound filly by Pins and loves her racing,” said Bridgman.

Astrid covered the 1200 metres in a slick time of 1:10.5 - last 600m in 34.7, on footing rated Dead4 and won by one and a quarter lengths.

In winning the NZB Pearl Series 3YO Fillies Maiden 1200 metres, Astrid earned a payout of $11,500 in addition to her share of the $12,000 stakes for the Te Akau Astrid Syndicate.

Jason Bridgman made special mention to thank New Zealand Bloodstock for putting up the money in the Pearl Series, saying: “It's a great initiative and it provides plenty of value for our fillies and mares.”

Bred by Joan Egan, and Brent & Cherry Taylor at Trelawney Stud, Astrid was purchased for $80,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis, from the Trelawney draft, at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

Following the sale, Egan decided to retain an involvement in the filly after Ellis offered her a share and she was thrilled with the victory.

“Astralita has actually been a very good broodmare, if you look at her list of progeny,” said Egan. “Brent and I bought the mare at one of the Inglis sales and interestingly it is the fillies from her that have been better than the colts.

“Darley bought her first foal, Astronomia (King's Best), and she did very well. She won in Australia, England and the States. She's leased out at the moment and in foal to He's Remarkable, and getting towards the end of her breeding career.

“Astralita was a very good race mare and a very tough horse and I think Astrid has a hint of her mother's toughness,” said Egan. “She has been a good broodmare and it's lovely to see the filly come on like that as it's all a bit of a gamble.

“I really think Jason (Bridgman) has done a great job with her and the blinkers have made a difference, which is not unusual with fillies, and she looked magnificent. It was a good field, albeit a small one. She had a lovely draw and all those things make a difference especially over 1200 metres. I feel she will get up to a mile as she gets on, being by Pins.

“He's a very good farmer David (Ellis),” said Egan. “They send us some of their stock and their cattle are beautiful. They are well managed, well grazed and he turns out beautiful stock. I also think that if you're a good stockman, you are also a good judge of a horse.

“They are certainly a nice group of people that own Astrid, and they love it. It was lovely to see them afterwards in the birdcage holding the (Pearl Series bonus) cheque, brilliant.”

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz