She's Not Bad - She's Very Good

Impressive winning in November, She's Not Bad(4 m He's Remarkable - Andra, by Zeditave) capped solid form and some bad luck in the next grade with a hard fought victory in the $16,000 Fasttrack Insurance Rating 72 1400 metres on 20 January at Te Rapa.

After delivering over 1300 metres at Hastings, She's Not Bad followed with a third and fifth respectively in strong fields at Ellerslie, before being denied room when appearing likely to force the issue on 5 January in the Rating 72 1400 metres at Awapuni.

“She was really unlucky at Awapuni, and we thought she'd put her best foot forward today,” said Te Akau racing manager Libby Richards.

“She did it really well and we'll place her towards stakes' races as she looks to be a very nice mare.”

Able to slot into a nice position (fourth) for rider Matt Cameron, She's Not Bad travelled sweetly on a genuine pace, ranged three wide on straightening and she dug deep in a driving finish that saw little over the first seven.

On Good3 footing, She's Not Bad ran the 1400 metres in a very respectable 1:21.8, last 600m 33.8, and given the strength of her recent form the $3.30 & $1.60 tote price was justified.

Racing in the Mapperley Stud colours, She's Not Bad was a bred by Simms Davison at Mapperley Stud, a product of resident stallion He's Remarkable (Pentire), and raced by him and Chittick Investments.

A good-looking, correct, filly with an action to match, She's Not Bad is the sixth individual winner for Andra, a mare that won two sprint races to 1100 metres in Australia. Her sire, Zeditave (The Judge), was one of the best sprinters in Australia, while grand-dam sire Twig Moss (Luthier) produced milers and also features in the dam line of Champion stallion Fastnet Rock (Danehill).

She's Not Bad has now won three of her seven starts and while heading the strike rate at 4.5, the win put trainer Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards within one of the premiership lead with 59 wins this season.

“It was a good, tough, win and she likes the firmer tracks,” Richards said. “Obviously she was unlucky at Palmerston North, and Ellerslie got 10mls of rain before she raced there prior.

“She's up to the next grade (Rating 82) now and we'll probably look for a mile. She's certainly a progressive sort of mare and I think she'll continue to improve with more time.

“It's great to have a nice mare in the stable for Simms (Davison) and Garry (Chittick), and with the yearling sales just around the corner we wish them both all the best.”

Prior to winning second-up in this campaign at Hastings, She's Not Bad could have raced a day earlier at Te Rapa, from a better draw, but a decision to wait proved correct.

“It was a good call by Jamie (Richards),” Davison had said. “We'd a chat and even though she was drawn wider at Hastings, he thought the trip away would help her and although drawn wide he had the confidence to ride her quietly. So, it was a great call on his behalf. The right option and it paid off.

“To go all the way to Hawkes Bay and have the confidence, it shows he's got some great systems in place.”

She's Not Bad was strapped by Tracy Collis.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz