Te Akau Wins Wednesday North & South

Two wins from four runners on the day moved Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman into equal third place on the Trainer Premiership, and within four of the lead, after Flirty Gertey (4 m Thorn Park - Granma Gertey, by Danzero) recorded a dominant fresh up win in the Norwood Farm Machinery Rating 75 1400 metres on Nov. 12 at Matamata.

Ridden by Cameron Lammas, who is straight back into the groove following an injury break, Flirty Gertey overcame the outside barrier in a field of thirteen to win by two and a quarter lengths, in 1:25.4 for the 1400 metres, last 600m in 37.3, on footing downgraded to Dead6 earlier in the day.

Returning $5.20 & $2.20 on the NZ TAB, she was recording her third win from seven starts for the Te Akau Flirty Gertey Syndicate (Mgr: D. C. Ellis).

“She went very well,” said rider Cameron Lammas. “She jumped well but they pulled up in our face and she got a little bit keen in the back straight. Once they put on a bit more speed she relaxed and travelled up nicely. From the 600m, I begun sneaking up and once balanced in the straight she kicked well and kept fighting.

“The track was probably border line for her and if it was any wetter she probably wouldn't have sprinted so well. I'd ridden her in gallops at home and I was pretty confident on her today. She's quite a relaxed horse and races just how you want her to,” said Lammas.

Lammas said his race day fitness is coming back to him and he had a full book of nine rides during the meeting. Winning three of them and placing in two others gave him the spoils in the Jockeys' Challenge.

“It was a terrific win fresh-up from the mare and she really has an impeccable record in a fresh state,” said Bridgman.

“It was great to see her come back following a minor throat procedure and on the strength of that performance it appears she is in for a good season,” said Bridgman, who had stated previously there was no question that Flirty Gertey was of above average ability and a filly with a fair bit of scope.”

She was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $110,000 at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling, from the draft of Mapperley Stud.

Her dam, Granma Gertey (Danzero), finished second on debut in the Blue Diamond Preview (Gr. 3, 1000m) at Caulfield, and returned to the same venue off a spell to again run second in the Quizette Stakes (Listed, 1200m). Her grand-dam, In the Mist (Southern Appeal), showed terrific versatility in winning ten races from 1000m to 2250m and Flirty Gertey gives the impression of harbouring a similar kind of adaptability.

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz