Two Ashburton Wins

Te Akau sent four horses to the races at Ashburton today - and recorded two wins and a very brave runner up placing in the Listed Barneswood Stakes with Heroic Valour (and a nice effort by filly O'Naturelle for sixth in that same race) who looks right on target for his Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas' assignment.

Te Akau's winners were Tavi's Star and Imperium - and here is the first!

Tavis Star (5 m Tavistock - Megapins, by Pins) shed her bridesmaid tag in no uncertain terms with a dominant fresh up win in the $20,000 Heartland Digital Print Rating 65 1400 metres on Saturday October 15 at Ashburton.

Runner-up six times since winning her Maiden last year at Te Aroha, she had placed in eight of her last ten starts and thoroughly deserved another victory for breeder and owner Michael Nooyen.

And the manner of her win suggested she could leapfrog a grade or two and be competitive at a far higher level in the near future.

A daughter of Wellington Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Megapins, who in turn was from the talented grey mare Instant Divorce (Fiesta Star), Tavis Star was given a lovely ride by Matt Cameron - on his first day back after a short suspension.

Beginning well before being steadied to sixth, Cameron had Tavis Star under a good hold just behind the leaders rounding the home turn. She balanced quickly once produced into the open and sprinted clear to win by two and a quarter lengths, in 1.24.6 for the 1400 metres on Dead5 ground.

Having won her Maiden on heavy footing at Te Aroha, conditions a touch beyond her best, she has since shown to be most effective on dead/slow going.

“She won quite nicely, carrying a fair bit of weight (58kgs), and we thought before the race we had her in the best condition she's been,” said Stephen Autridge, who trains the mare with Jamie Richards.

Although not overly big, Tavis Star has displayed a healthy combination of acceleration of tenacity in all of her races and the win was timely in view of upcoming assignments.

“We got her down there to hopefully get a bit of black type, so we're going the right way,” Autridge said.

“She's always been good enough and now she'll go into that next grade no worries, won't be carrying the grandstand, so she'll be a good chance next time of winning again.

Tavis Star was strapped by Richard Didham.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

 

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