Te Akau Juggernaut Rolls On

So reports the NZ Racing Desk:

The powerful Te Akau Racing team produced another contender for higher honours when their three-year-old Thorn Park filly Flirty Gertey destroyed a rating 65 field at Ellerslie on Saturday.

An impressive four length maiden win at Paeroa in October saw her installed a warm $2.40 favourite and her many supporters had little to worry about as she raced handy to the speed before issuing her challenge on the home bend and racing away to a soft one and three-quarter length victory.

 â€œShe's a good filly,” said Bridgman. “We gave her a freshen-up of a couple of weeks after Paeroa, and although coming into the race looking spot-on you would still expect improvement having not run for a couple of months.

“On the score of natural ability, she won her maiden pretty handily by four [lengths] and has come out in the next grade and been commanding again.

“I think she is above average, no question, and she is a lovely filly with a fair bit of scope. She relaxes well, has a lovely big stride, is getting better all the time, has a good cruising speed and can quicken off that, and I think she will run a trip.

“The test on faster ground remains as yet, but other than that she is a nice, progressive filly at this stage.”

The daughter of Thorn Park, who was a $110,000 purchase by Te Akau principal David Ellis at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale, will now head to the Gr. 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie.

Bridgman also reported that his star three-year-old performers of the season to date were all gearing up for their Christmas/New Year assignments.

“Costa Viva is back after her break and will trial at Cambridge on Tuesday as will Chambord and All Decked Out,” he said.

“Spellbinder is also back in work although she was a week later than the others so she won't be running at the trials this week.”

Costa Viva is being aimed at the Eight Carat Classic while both Chambord and All Decked Out will contest the Gr. 2 Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

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