Totally Unfazed

Showing her liking for the course and making it two wins from her last three starts, Unfazed (4 m Zabeel - Fazed, by Stravinsky) made a successful transition in winning the $25,000 Rating 75 1400 metres on Saturday at Rotorua.

A Maiden winner over the same distance by nearly four lengths at her only previous course attempt, Unfazed had raced clear to win the Rating 65 1400 metres by four lengths on 22 February at Wairoa, but denied an opportunity to threaten when blocked for a run there three days later.

A mare that can get a touch stirred up, co-trainer Stephen Autridge said: “She's been to Wairoa, and back, which can get some of them on the toe a bit, but she's probably been more settled since the trip and she was well behaved today.”

After covering the world (three wide without cover), Unfazed ranged to challenge four wide rounding the home turn and was unflinching in her run to the line.

From the last crop of legendary stallion Zabeel (Sir Tristram), Unfazed is owned by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan and raced with them on lease by Jamie Tout, Matthew Bell, Bryce Lawrence, Glen Jackson, Mike Fraser, Alan Muir, Mark & Chrissy de Lacy, and Vijay Vallabh.

“Zabeel had only three fillies in his last crop and Unfazed is one of them,” said Sir Patrick.

“She's obviously got plenty of ability and I know its Rating 75, so not the top-shelf yet, but with the patient approach from the trainers she's always shown she could develop into a black print horse.

“It was a well deserved win because she had to do it the hard way, drawn an outside barrier. But Shafiq rode her well and got home, so very pleased with the run.

“Steve (Autridge) and Jamie (Richards) keep in touch with me and we've planned where we're going and providing she stays sound we'll certainly give her the opportunity next year to step up to higher rating races and hope we can pick up black print on the way.

“She's needed time and being by Zabeel they can get better and better with another year or two on them. It's been well worth waiting for her. We race her with a good team of people, including some of the rugby referees and they've been a patient team which is good and hopefully she can continue to put a bit of money in the kitty.”

Ridden by Shafiq Rusof, who had notched three seconds and a win since returning to ride for Te Akau, after been based with Mark Walker in Singapore, Unfazed ran the 1400 metres in 1:24.7 on footing upgraded to Dead4 early in the programme and she paid $5.10 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote in a race sponsored by Have Your Function at Arawa Park.

“It was a good tough effort after being three wide the trip,” Autridge said. “I was a bit worried seeing her without cover, but I said to Shafiq she can find trouble, so give her plenty of room. He couldn't get cover, but he stayed out of trouble and she's a pretty good mare.

“Next time in I think she'll be super and we can aim a bit higher with her. She was one of the last Zabeel's, already won three and I think next season we'll see an even better horse.”

Unfazed was strapped by Jahmane Murray-Bromwich.  Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

In two other performances worthy of mention, both on New Zealand Oaks Day at Trentham, three-year-old filly Paulownia (Fastnet Rock) ran a terrific race only to be out bobbed on the line in the $100,000 Phill Cataldo Bloodstock Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m). An impressive debut winner, it was a gallant effort at just her second start. And group one winner Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) continued his excellent form in top-class sprint races when coming from last to finish second in the $50,000 Te Akau Racing Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m).