Two Win Saturday - First Big Brave Bordeaux

Appearing a rating special, under set weight conditions, Bordeaux (4 g High Chaparral - Our Echezeaux, by Zabeel) secured a tilt at the St Leger (Listed, 2500m) on March 19 at Trentham, following another tough victory on Saturday February 27 in the $20,000 St Leger Trial, over 2100 metres, at Otaki.

Having now won five of his last seven starts, Bordeaux was rated nine points above his nearest rival, carrying the same 59.5kgs, and early market fixed odds quotes of $4.50 & $1.75 looked juicy.

Drawing the outside gate in a field of eleven, Bordeaux was sent forward by rider Jonathan Riddell and settled comfortably outside the leader before poking his head in front at the 600m. He travelled best at the 400m and continued his terrific form with another tough win.

It was a top ride by Riddell and saw Bordeaux notch his fifth win from only ten starts for the Te Akau 2013 Breeding Syndicate.

“He's a lovely horse and it was pretty easy, really,” said Riddell. “I was very appreciative of the ride and I just had to sit there, basically.

“He was relaxed and waited for the other horses once he got to the front and he certainly had more there if something really wanted to come and challenge.

“I couldn't really see him getting beat when I was doing the form,” he added.

Bordeaux provided win number 64 for training partners Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards and puts them eleven ahead in the premiership.

“We had been really happy with him through the week and his work was spot on leading into the race, and he was aided by a lovely ride,” said Richards.

“He's been very progressive through this preparation and certainly looks a staying horse for the future.

“He was bred by Sir Peter Vela, at Pencarrow Stud, and being by High Chaparral out of a Zabeel mare he has really improved with the time we've given him, and I'd like to thank the owners because they have been very patient.

“He's another example of the quality of horse that David (Ellis) buys from Karaka, and onwards and upwards to the St Leger,” said Richards.

A half-brother to the colt by Frankel (Galileo) out of Our Echezeaux that topped the recent Karaka yearling sales for $1.3 million, Bordeaux was purchased by David Ellis for $620,000 from the Pencarrow Stud draft at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

Bordeaux was strapped by Pam Gerard.

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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