The English Rose Blooms

Te Akau stable jockey Opie Bosson was again to the fore with another brilliantly judged ride aboard English Rose (4 m Makfi - Bislieri, by Encosta De Lago) on 20 March at Rotorua.

After leading on stable-mate Red
Jakkal (Jakkalberry) in the previous race, Bosson initiated a positive move
aboard English Rose to lead at the 1000m, in the $10,000 NZB Insurance Pearl
Series Maiden 1400 metres, where she was eligible for the $11,500 bonus, and
able to button off to the 600m she had her opposition in trouble from the 400m
before racing clear to win by three and a quarter lengths.

It was another copybook
exhibition by a rider that recently claimed the highest number (63) of Group
One victories in New Zealand, after scoring aboard Te Akau trained superstar
Melody Belle (Commands) in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) on
9 March at Ellerslie.

A mare that has taken time to
mature, but also registered some good performances, English Rose broke through
at her tenth start for the Te Akau English Rose Syndicate and while the sister
to 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Sofia Rosa (Makfi) already had
plenty of residual value, winning certainly enhances the fact.

“It was a good, tough effort from
her,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “She's been very immature and backward all
the way through. It's taken her a long time to carry any weight and she's had
her fair share of soreness issues, but now as a fully mature four-year-old,
after Christmas we've started to see the rewards of patience. The indicators
were there when she trialled up under a hold for third at Avondale, and she's
gone on to win.

“It was another lovely ride by
Opie. Probably the winning of the race being able to get to the front and
dictating terms and she quickened up well.

“As we get into the autumn
tracks, with a little bit of rain around, it wouldn't surprise us to see her
win another one or two in this campaign. It's been a good job by the staff and
the whole team, including those at Te Akau Stud that have looked after her
while she's been spelling.

On Dead5 footing, English Rose
ran the 1400 metres in 1:24.5, last 600m in 35.6, and from the third line of
betting she paid $6.50 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was terrific to see her win
and the manner suggests she could go on with it now,” said Te Akau principal
David Ellis, who purchased her for $200,000 from the draft of Westbury Stud at
the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale. “It's great for the owners who are loyal
supporters and have shown enormous patience.

“It was Jamie's 80^th
win for the season and still only in the middle of March, so a very good
effort. It's incredible the effort by all the staff to make this happen. These
things don't just happen by accident, they happen through the amazing staff
that we have here at the farm and at the stables in Matamata.

“English Rose is a good example of us not only buying two-year-old types but horses at all levels. She's a filly and now a mare that has needed time. She's got a terrifically valuable pedigree and all wins are a bonus for her.

“We've still some beautiful horses from the yearling sales left to sell at Te Akau Stud. One horse I saw working this morning, I thought to myself this is the sort of horse I'm trying to buy. He's a Savabeel colt out of Cool 'N' Sassy that I bought from Fairdale Stud and only paid $150,000 for him - that's great value when you think the service fee is $125,000. It was beautiful to see the horse working so well around the farm and you can just tell it has the makings to be a good horse.”

English Rose was strapped by Tayla Beardsley.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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