Triple Treat NZ Saturday - Win No.2 Summer Monsoon
Date: 18 Sep 2022
Although not depicted in the market, long-shot Summer Monsoon (8 g Stratum - Princess Narine, by Red Ransom) defeated race favourite and stable-mate Burgundy Rose (Burgundy) in the $40,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.
A Stewards' Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) winner on the course during Cup Week last November, Summer Monsoon had resumed in the Open 1000 metres won by Burgundy Rose on 3 September at Riccarton.
Whereas the short trip suited Burgundy Rose, Summer Monsoon was far from disgraced finishing sixth and a decision by trainer Mark Walker to apply blinkers certainly sharpened him up.
A riderless horse caused interference to many, but Te Akau Champion Apprentice Joe Kamaruddin secured a relatively clear passage aboard Summer Monsoon, while Burgundy Rose had to change course and copped a few bumps.
Burgundy Rose led inside the final furlong, before Summer Monsoon ascended and went on to score by one and a quarter lengths.
Along with the addition of blinkers, Summer Monsoon had undertaken a jumps' role in order to switch him on.
“It was a great win by the old boy and I think that jumping smartened his act up a bit,†Walker said.
“He may have realised that trying hard on the flat is a lot easier than jumping, so I think some reverse psychology worked there.â€
In the race sponsored by Double Tree by Hilton Karaka, Summer Monsoon ran 1200 metres in 1:10.6 on Soft6 footing, and more than doubled his earlier fixed odds quote ($15) to pay $35.30 & $6.60 on the NZ TAB tote.
Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Sydney No. 1 Breeding Syndicate, and good enough to finish second in the Matamata Slipper (Listed, 1200m) as two-year-old, Summer Monsoon was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, and recorded his third win on the course and ninth overall.
“He looked like he'd gone off the boil, so Mark (Walker) gave him some jumping to get his mind back on the job,†Ellis said. “And he's quite freakish Mark, the way he can turn these older geldings around and back into winners.
“Joe (Kamaruddin) gave him a terrific ride and it's great to see the old boy back in winning form.
“Joe was Champion Apprentice last year, in just his second season of riding, and he's an outstanding young man and such a massive asset for the stable. He rode a great front-running race to win on Challa Friday at Taupo, and rode gallops on Saturday morning at Matamata, before he left for the airport and flew to Christchurch.
“We've got a great team of people in the South Island, led by Hunter Durrant, who is doing an outstanding job and shapes as a really good trainer prospect for the future. Supporting him are Lydia Truesdale, Jason Laking, and Katija Cherrie.â€
Summer Monsoon was strapped by Grace Stevenson.
Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz
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