Te Rapa Double - Freeze Frame Fab

Further embellishing his record at the Te Rapa Racecourse, Freeze Frame (4 g Vadamos – Snow Petal, by Bernadini) turned the tables on race rival Sumi in the $40,000 Hutton Contracting Open Handicap 1400 metres on Saturday.

Having produced a whirlwind finish to win fresh-up over 1100 metres in December at Te Rapa, Freeze Frame obliged again when bursting between runners over 1400 metres on Matamata Cup Day (24 Feb.), and finished strongly from back in the field for second to Sumi in the corresponding Open Handicap 1400 metres on 14 April at Te Rapa. 

Ridden again by Warren Kennedy, Freeze Frame met Sumi on slightly better (1.5kg) terms in weights, and at the line had a head margin over second placed Karman Line and a nose to Sumi in third.

From back in running, seven lengths 600m, Freeze Frame was held up behind horses in the straight, and remained tight for room until sighting daylight and sprouting wings over the concluded stages.

It was a performance not unlike his resuming effort when coming from second last with a phenomenal run through the field.

On Soft6 footing, Freeze Frame ran 1400 metres in 1:24.7, last 600m in 34.9, and kept garnering support in betting to pay $4.10 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“The weight difference between him and Sumi was telling in the finish and it was another good ride by Warren (Kennedy),” said racing manager Reece Trumper.

“He’s a horse that you can’t bustle early and needs to get into a rhythm. He did everything right today and the gaps opened, thankfully.  He’s not the easiest horse to deal with, Warren gets on with him really well and he’s a horse that should continue to get better with more time.

“I think the progeny of Vadamos will get better as they get older and that Freeze Frame will get over more ground, in time, as well.”

Co-trainer Mark Walker suggested that Freeze Frame, given his affinity with the track at Te Rapa, would likely return for the $40,000 Open Handicap 1300 metres on Saturday 18 May, saying: “it appears an ideal next assignment for him and a nice gap between races.

“It was a terrific win by him today and good ride of Warren’s. He just got the run at the right time and wouldn’t have wanted to wait much longer, but the horse really hit the line strongly and would have been unlucky not to win.”

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $80,000 at the Karaka 2021 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Rich Hill Stud, Freeze Frame is owned by the Te Akau Frozen Fame Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and now won five races while including seven seconds and two thirds.

Sponsor Hutton Contracting is owned by former jockey Brendan Hutton, who rode over 100 winners in New Zealand, and in his sixth year of sponsorship Te Akau was winning the race for the third time, following Wairau Cove last year and Summer Monsoon in 2021.

Adding to the occasion, Freeze Frame is shared in ownership by Waikato Thoroughbred Racing CEO Butch Castles, whose son Hunter was bidder on behalf of David Ellis when the horse was bought at Karaka.

“Thank you Brendan (Hutton) for your continued sponsorship of this race and congratulations to the owners,” Ellis said.

“I’d like to congratulate the club for the magnificent track they’ve prepared for the horses today, it’s fair to all and it’s a credit to the hard work from everyone involved.

“Also to Hunter (Castles) who did the bidding for us on this horse and his sister Frankie, who is one of the horse's biggest supporters. He had to be really good to win today, especially at Open Handicap conditions and he’s building a really good record.

“To our racing manager Reece Trumper and all the staff, I’d like to pass on our thanks from both Karyn and I for all your hard work and achieving what was our 143rd win in New Zealand this season.

Dam Snow Petal had left three dual winners prior to Freeze Frame, including Group race performed Platinum Petals (Deep Field) and Platinum Road (Declaration of War), who have each won over 1600 metres. 

His sire Vadamos was the Leading First Season Sire at the Karaka Yearling Sales in 2020. 

An internationally bred and performed racehorse, Vadamos is by the top-class stallion Monsun who has sired three Melbourne Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) winners. 

Grand-dam Zirna (Deputy Governor) was a tremendous race mare that won the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m) and went on to become Singapore Horse of the Year. In turn, she became a very good broodmare, leaving four-time winner and Group Two placed Crafty Irna (Starcraft), along with multiple winners Snitzel’s Goddess (Snitzel) and I’ve Gotta Feeling (Encosta de Lago). 

Freeze Frame was strapped by Cooper Stumbles. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz