Te Akau NZ Winning Weekend

It was a case of the winning continues for Te Akau NZ trainer Jason Bridgman as the team celebrated a winning double - Spellbinder at Ellerslie and Precious Time at Awapuni at the Marton JC meeting.

This double ensured that Jason continued his hold on the Trainers' Premiership while rider Matt Cameron likewise stays ahead on the Jockeys' Premiership on a day where he celebrated his 700th career winner!

Let's firstly salute the fresh up win by Spellbinder at Ellerslie:

Third in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at her previous start, Spellbinder (3 f O'Reilly - Scenic Sprint, by Scenic) again stamped her class in a fresh state with an impressive win in the Pegasus Equine Rating 75 1200 metres on Saturday Jan. 11 at Ellerslie.

Purchased for $60,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Spellbinder Syndicate, Spellbinder took her record to three wins from five starts and $87,000 in stakes.

Returning to the venue of her impressive six and half length win in the Soliloquy Stakes (Listed, 1400m), Spellbinder had subsequently finished second to Bounding (Lonhro) in the James & Annie Sarten Memorial (Gr. 3, 1400m) before her third to stable-mate Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago) in the Group One feature at Riccarton.

Ready to get on with when presenting in the birdcage and smooth in her preliminary, the indicators looked good for Spellbinder to resume with a winning performance off a 56-day break.

From barrier seven in a field of nine, Spellbinder jumped well and travelled easily in third with the two leaders in her sights. She challenged to lead at the 150 metres and looked full of quality when getting clear late in the piece.

Spellbinder won by one and a half lengths, clocking 1:10.80 for the 1200 metres and the final 600m in 34.2.

“She was obviously the class horse in the race,” said jockey Matt Cameron.

“She got a nice trip just off them and they ran along, so she settled nicely for a big horse, fresh up. I sat on her for as long as I could; gave her a couple just to get past the second horse but she was way too good for them.

“She is looking to a mile and it was good to start in an easier field and teach her a bit more. She is a lot more balanced and has come up a lot stronger. With the racing as a three-year-old she has learnt a lot and strengthened up heaps,” said Cameron.

Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman has always held Spellbinder in high regard and realises he has a top filly on his hands.

“I thought she would be vulnerable without the benefit of a trial, or even an exhibition gallop and she has only really had one serious piece of work since the Guineas,” said Bridgman.

“A normal horse would probably have run fifth or sixth, but just sheer class is what I put it down to today.

“She came out of Riccarton quite a sore horse and we had to give her an extra week in the paddock. That was the seed of my concern, the three weeks off, but she had gone well fresh and that was in the back of my mind. Only good horses can do that sort of thing and hopefully if she pulls up well we can come back here in a fortnight for the Karaka Mile."

The Karaka 3YO Mile (Listed, 1600m) is contested on Sunday Jan. 26 at Ellerslie, the eve of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka.

With an idea in mind for her autumn campaign, Bridgman will be guided by her performances.

"I just don't know how many runs on fast ground she will take, so we'll just have to assess it after her next run. I'm not adverse to a freshen-up with her again and maybe waiting until winter and possibly taking her to Brisbane.

“She just likes to get her toe in [to the ground]. She is quite flat-footed. There is nothing wrong with her action, or speed, but you have to plan around what they [horses] are. A flat-footed filly; concussion gets to them."

Interestingly, Spellbinder was bred by Melbourne trainer Danny O'Brien. O'Brien had asked Mark Chittick to buy him a mare to send to O'Reilly (Last Tycoon) and unfortunately they lost the grey mare Scenic Sprint after foaling.

Te Akau stable jockey Matt Cameron, who leads the Jockey Premiership with 77 wins for the season, achieved a milestone during the meeting when recording his 700th career victory.

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz