They All Chased Him Home

The only runner for trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards on Friday at Te Aroha: The Chaser (4 g Swiss Ace - Intelligentsia, by Danzero) won the $10,000 Rating 65 1200 metres in a doddle.

Following a fresh-up second at Avondale, The Chaser could hardly have been more impressive when winning the Maiden 1200 metres by five lengths on 29 March at Wanganui (a race that provided Autridge with his 1000^th winner), and made the step up in grade with aplomb.

In what looked on paper to be a competitive field, and drawn wide (10), The Chaser was never closer than three off the fence as he worked forward to post outside the leaders, but he turned a somewhat arduous trip into a cakewalk when surging clear to win by nearly four lengths under rider Michael McNab.

“He's a horse that's really improving,” McNab said. “I was out a bit, where I wanted to be, two to three or four out was a better spot, not as rough and quite good footing. He got through it (ground) alright, although I wouldn't definitely say he would go through the winter (going).

The Chaser had finished fifth on heavy ground in each of two starts as a three-year-old, last winter, won on Dead6 and Wanganui, and appeared to have no problem with Slow8 going in the race sponsored by Lee Somervall Racing.

“He's an improving horse and I'd like to thank Russell Warwick at his team at Westbury Stud that look after all the horses for Gerry (Harvey),” Richards said. “They've been very patient. He's always shown a bit, but had a few niggling issues, and they're now being rewarded.  He was in (Wednesday) at Matamata, but we thought we'd wait a few more days and as it worked out the track came back a couple of points.

“A big thanks to the team at home, he's not an easy horse. Michael (McNab) gave him a nice ride and everything is going well. He's a horse that's going to keep progressing through the grades, but we'll place him carefully and try and keep his confidence high.”

Westbury Stud general manager Russell Warwick said: “The Te Akau team has done a really good job and the horse is going well, so it's very satisfying. It's not always easy to back up from a Maiden into 65 rating grade, but more importantly to win like he has and it was quite impressive the way he ran away from them.

“He's a big horse that's needed time and patience, and while he might not put his hand up to become a champion he's always said ‘give me a bit of time and I may not be too bad'.

“I thought he was well named, even if I do say so myself, out of Intelligentsia, so I named him after the television programme The Chase.

“Intelligentsia won three and was stakes placed. The Chaser has a sister (Lady Andressa) that has won two in Australia, and it's a very good family that can leave a good horse: So Lets, Passakiss, and more recently Keeninsky and Cosmic Cube. His half-brother Comeback (Makfi) finished third earlier in the programme, there is a two-year-old filly by Reliable Man that we're retaining in Australia and the mare is in foal again to Reliable Man.

“Te Akau leads the way with communications and their social media is fantastic - off the mark very quickly there.

“We've got a couple of horses in the stable. The other one, Witchery (Savabeel), trialled nicely through the week at Waipa, and of course David (Ellis) bought Ristretto off us at the Ready to Run Sale last year and she's looks a nice progressive filly.”

Ristretto (Makfi) displayed good attributes to win on debut recently at New Plymouth, and targeting the $50,000 Waikato Equine Vets 2YO Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on Saturday 5 May at Te Rapa.

The Chaser was strapped by Nik Bakar.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz