She's a Fine Wine

Lady Pinot (5 m Starspangledbanner - Madame Echezeaux, by Montjeu) provided Te Akau apprentice Tegan Newman with her first win in the tangerine colours on Wednesday 23 August at Tauranga - and was also Te Akau's first winner for the new season.

Newman, who made an immediate impact when winning her first race day ride in February this year, on Matamata Breeders' Stakes Day, joined Te Akau Racing in July and Te Akau principal David Ellis said:

“Tegan was a young woman that came to us wanting to broaden her opportunities.  We're obviously all very proud of Tegan achieving her first win for us,” Ellis said.

“She works hard, is determined to succeed, has been doing a good job and getting further experience riding horses at the trials and that is a paying off.  I'd seen her riding at the trials, was there when she won at Matamata, and she currently claims four-kilos which is such an advantage on heavy tracks.

“She's an exceptionally talented and polished rider, with a highly successful career behind her on ponies and show-jumping and we're thrilled to have her as part of the team.”

After beating a good field two starts ago in the Rating 65 1200 metres on Heavy10 at Te Teko, Lady Pinot had looked a real chance before yielding late to finish a close third in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 12 August at Pukekohe, and back to midweek racing after contesting a Saturday event, with weight relief to 53kgs, certainly enhanced her prospects in the $11,000 Rating 70 Lion Red 1200 metres.

Punters did not miss the good form lines and installed Lady Pinot as favourite on both the NZ TAB fixed odds and tote: returning $3.50 & $1.40 and $3.80 & $1.90 respectively.

Winning her third race for owners Dave & Nicky Hurst, Dianne Ford, Jim & Pauline Hepburn, Peter & Jennie Georgetti, Glenn & Cathie Holmes, and David & Matt Peacocke, Lady Pinot was purchased by David Ellis for $200,000 at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, from a family that needs little introduction.

“She is from the wonderful Pencarrow family of Darci Brahma (Danehill) and Burgundy (Redoute's Choice) and this filly has always been a strong running type by world champion sprinter Starspangledbanner (Choisir),” Ellis said.

“It's one of the best families in New Zealand, and the dam herself has already left winners Pink Bubbles (Pins) and the promising galloper Cote De Nuits (Stravinsky).”

Ellis said that some of the ownership team had been with Te Akau for many years and enjoyed Group One successes with horses like King's Chapel (King of Kings), Maroofity (Maroof), Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) and more recently Hall of Fame (Savabeel), Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock), Xtravagant (Pentire), and others.

“Lady Pinot is going to make a fantastic broodmare later on and her progeny will be well sought after at any sale in the Southern Hemisphere,” Ellis said.

“This filly has just needed a bit of time and she has a terrific group of owners that have been prepared to give her the time. I'm thrilled for the owners. They are all real racing enthusiasts and it's always great to win races for people like that, and given the way she's racing I see no reason why she couldn't carry on and win more races.”

Newman worked Lady Pinot into a nice position in third passing the 800m, was clear to challenge in the straight and with the aid of weight relief she stayed on strongly to win narrowly but well.

An integral part of the winning ride by Newman was her diligence in not allowing a gap when rounding the home turn on the shoulder of the leader, as it denied a run for eventual second placed Az Given (Any Given Saturday) who then had to change ground and make a run on the inner.  Under clear skies, on footing rated Heavy11, Lady Pinot ran the 1200 metres in 1:17.1.

“It was good effort by the mare to win again and Tegan is doing a lot of hard work behind the scenes,” said Jamie Richards, who co-trains Lady Pinot with Stephen Autridge.

“She has become a valuable part of the team and we are really pleased to see her get her first win in the tangerine. She has been starting to gain more confidence, her riding has improved because of it and everything is going the right way for her.

“It was also lovely to have owners Dave and Nicky, Jim and Pauline, on course, and Alison (Rowe) and Nita (Herbst) were there to support them as well.”

Richards also wanted to pass on his gratitude to the all the staff, who have endured a fairly tough winter.

“It's been long, wet, and cold, but hopefully we've put the worst of it behind us and the hard work will be repaid with winners as we get better tracks to race on,” he said.

Lady Pinot was strapped by Melissa Ford.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz