Te Akau NZ Win 50

Continuing his exemplary form, Rapid Gain (4 g Flying Spur - Occasional Gain) extended his record to three wins from seven starts when coming from off the pace with a well-timed finish to win the Atkinson & Donaldson Plumbing Benchmark 75 1400 metres on Jan. 24 at Rotorua, and provided leading trainer Jason Bridgman with his 50th win this season for Te Akau.

Having put his rivals away for a stylish win in the Benchmark 65 1400 metres on Jan. 6 at Rotorua, Rapid Gain further enhanced his course record to two wins and a second from only four starts.

In the mould a strapping Aussie sprinter, standing 16.3hh and weighing 600kg, Rapid Gain was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $90,000 at the 2011 Australian Easter Yearling Sale for the Te Akau Rapid Gain Syndicate.

“He won as impressively as he did last time and starting to look in the progressive bracket,” said Bridgman.

“You get the feeling he is starting to put it all together and although
he is still doing a few things wrong the encouraging things about that is still having a bit up your sleeve. So, there is every reason to expect there is more to come.

“We've always thought he was a horse with good ability and I can see him continue to improve and have no doubts he can get to open class. Ultimately, he may even be able to come back in trip once he's more professional and be competitive against the best sprinters,” said Bridgman.

Rapid Gain is a half-brother to Blue Diamond (Gr. 1, 1200m) winner True Jewels (Brief Truce), a race in which his sister, Wager (Flying Spur), finished second. Wager also won the Stan Fox Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m), Sir Byrne Hart (Gr. 2, 1400m) and finished runner-up in the Sires' Produce (Gr. 1, 1400m), Champagne Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), Tea Rose Stakes (Gr. 2, 1500m), and the Furious Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m).

Stable rep Tommy Hazlett was on hand immediately after the win and had the following comments.

“He's been a bit of a trick this horse,” said Hazlett.

“He's got quite a quirky nature and takes a bit of keeping happy, but happy horses win races and we discussed after he won here the other day that he may win a couple in a row now.

“It was a good effort because he got a little bit further back than we anticipated and he found the line well.

Rapid Gain took awhile to settle into position, travelled seventh in a field of nine passing the 600 metres five lengths from the pacemaker and held together around the home turn by jockey Matt Cameron he presented four wide on straightening and finished too well for his opposition.

Winning by a head, Rapid Gain again broke 1:23 for the 1400 metres and returned $4.90 and $1.70 on the NZ TAB.

“There is no better time to be training winners with the Karaka Sales coming up”, said Hazlett, and speaking to David (Ellis) a couple of days ago there is plenty of opportunity for owners to get involved in syndicates. The team is on fire, Matthew (Cameron) is riding so well, and if people want to get involved in the racing game, want to race a horse, then they should give David Ellis a ring.”

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz