The Flirt Fantastic

Flirty Gertey (3 f Thorn Park - Granma Gertey, by Danzero) put right a nose defeat on debut with a four and a quarter length victory on Oct. 14 at Paeroa.

The Flirty Gerty Syndicate owners had to take it on the chin after Frankly (Pins) won a bob of the head finish at Gisborne, as the pair drew seven lengths clear of third, and trainer Jason Bridgman had the filly nicely freshened twenty-two days later.

Away well from barrier six in the Maiden 3YO 1350 metres, Flirty Gertey settled nicely alongside the leader on a steady tempo, quickened to assume control at the 200 metres, then raced clear, while giving jockey Matt Cameron the feeling of a potential stakes performer for the future.

Following the win by Enhance (Saperavi) on Saturday at Matamata, the eighteenth winner for Te Akau this season further tightened the strike rate to one in four for trainer Jason Bridgman. A figure that has him clearly ahead in the ratio of winners to starters amongst the top six in premiership honours.

“Having finished first and second in trials on the course, I was very confident of her suiting the track on race day,” said Bridgman, of Flirty Gertey. “She was a touch unlucky to lose the photo finish on debut, and it was a very nice to frank the form and win.

Racing on Dead6 footing and Slow8, respectively, Bridgman feels the filly will be suited to better going.

“I see her as a progressive filly, particularly after Christmas, and depending how she pulls up she may have a brief respite before looking at stakes' racing opportunities,” said Bridgman.

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.

From the draft of Mapperley Stud, at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, Te Akau principal David Ellis purchased Flirty Gertey for $110,000. 

Having shown professional attributes all the way through her career to date, Mark Walker had said at the time of purchase, “She's a good quality filly, purchased at a very reasonable price and she has a pedigree to offer great residual value”.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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