Six Win Saturday - No.6 Mai Tai

Stakes' winning mare Mai Tai (5 m Atlante - Tropical Punch, by Faltaat) made it two wins on the day for Wentwood Grange when taking out the $40,000 Fairview Motors Open 1400 metres on Saturday at Matamata.

Racking up the sixth win of the day for Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards - three apiece at Matamata and Riccarton - Mai Tai was number two in the black with bronze Prince of Wales feathers colours of the Hawkins family. Earlier in the day at Riccarton, three-year-old filly Shepherd's Delight (Rip Van Winkle) won convincingly and could next be seen in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m).

The winner of six from 12, moving quickly through the grades, Mai Tai ended her previous campaign after winning the Anzac Mile (Listed, 1550m) on Anzac Day (25 April) at Awapuni, and produced a solid sixth when resuming in Open 1400 metres on 2 October at Hastings.

From barrier three, rider Danielle Johnson, fresh from winning the Soliloquy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) aboard stable-mate Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), secured a lovely spot on the outer and Mai Tai dug deep to prevail in a close finish.

Bet in from $4.20 & $1.60 fixed odds quote, she returned $3.30 & $1.20 on the NZ TAB tote after running 1400 metres in 1:23.6 on Dead4 footing.

“She was great and needed all of the 1400 metres,” Richards said. “She kept grinding and looks like she wants to go a bit further.

“She's a stakes' winner from last season and hopefully we can point her on to some nice races. Danielle (Johnson) did a really good job on her, finding a nice spot one out and one back at the 600m.”

Her dam, Tropical Punch (Faltaat), was Group 3 and Listed placed to 1600 metres, and Mai Tai carries a Mr. Prospector cross - used to good effect in breeding strategies by Wentwood Grange - as the sire of Faltaat and through the dam-lines of Atlante.

“We're very excited about the two wins today,” said Lee Hawkins, amidst celebrations. “Mai Tai was unlucky fresh-up at Hastings, when a horse came out in front of her and she couldn't quite get into her stride.

“We were a bit concerned whether or not she could beat them from off the pace at Matamata, so to be able to get the win really showed us what she's got. There can be a leader's bias, but she chased them down really well.

“Danielle (Johnson) put the stick away at the end and I think it was even better than it looked. It was a very good ride and well prepared by the Te Akau crew that know what they're doing. They've always had a bit of time for her and great to get another win early in the season.

“She was very progressive last season and it will be interesting to see just how far she's going to get, really. Her sectionals have been good and she races best on dead to good tracks.

“Our association with Te Akau goes back a long way. We were talking about that today, remembering Xbert (Bertolini) that they trained for us to win the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000) back in 2005.

“We've always tried to give them good horses to train for us and, obviously, they had Our Abbadean (Lookin' at Lucky) and did a great job with her, winning two Group 2 races and twice Group 1 placed.

“And now they've got Shepherd's Delight and Mai Tai. It's great to be able to reciprocate and give them some good horses to train.”

Mai Tai was strapped by Tracy Collis.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz