Summer Monsoon Breezes Home

Having shown gate speed when second on debut, Summer Monsoon (2 c Stratum - Princess Narine, by Red Ransom) benefitted by a good beginning to win the $20,000 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup 10^th Dec Package 1000 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.

In form rider Cameron Lammas, fresh from two hat-tricks in the past four days, took luck out of the equation and had Summer Monsoon travelling sweetly in front. Finding a two length advantage to the 300m, he never flinched in holding his nearest challenger at bay by a short neck.

Backed in late on the tote, Summer Monsoon returned $4.60 & $1.60 fixed odds after running the 1000m in 58.9 on Dead4 footing.

“It was a very professional effort in what appeared quite a strong field, as well,” said Stephen Autridge, who co-trains the horse with Jamie Richards.

“I think the race day experience helped him a lot and he's now shown he can match and beat other two-year-olds. They think the third horse [Astor] is pretty smart, but she did a few things wrong.

“We're very happy for the owners and our two-year-olds are going very well,” Autridge said.

Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Sydney No. 1 Breeding Syndicate, Summer Monsoon was purchased by David Ellis for $200,000 at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.

“He won it at the barrier, didn't he,” Ellis said.

“I bought him early in sale for two hundred and I think he would have made a lot more had he been later in the sale.  He is a lovely, well balanced colt, very athletic, and we'll give him a breather now and get him ready for big two-year-old races after Christmas. Races like the Matamata Slipper, and the Group One Diamond Stakes."

Summer Monsoon has an interesting mating perspective. His sire Stratum is by Redoute's Choice, who in turn is from the Danehill (Danzig) mare Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad), and it is Shantha's Choice that also appears on his dam side as the mother on his grand-dam Monsoon Wedding. It is a pedigree that brings about not only a lovely Danehill cross, but a massive input of quality on both sides. Put simply, he has a blood brother and a sister in the third line of his pedigree.

Summer Monsoon was strapped by Wiremu Pinn.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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