Two Wins at Taupo

Te Akau NZ trainer Jason Bridgman has kick started the new season in style recording a winning double at Taupo - both horses were ridden by Opie Bosson (Matt Cameron is currently on a well earned holiday) and both were selected and purchased by David Ellis.

The winners were Sunset Pass who claimed the first - and appropriately Rapid Gain who snared the last to close off the day as Te Akau had started it - here firstly the report on the dour victory by Sunset Pass, a gem of a horse - pictured courtesy of www.raceimages.co.nz:

Reward came for one of the true gentleman in the Te Akau stables when Sunset Pass (5 g Yamanin Vital - Janet's Chance, by Random Chance) took out the Marks Ewen & Associates Maiden 1800 metres on Aug. 19 at Taupo.

Given an eleven out of ten ride by Opie Bosson, Sunset Pass capitalized on barrier one before a timely out saw him off the rail into a perfect position entering the back straight. Edging forward inside the 600 metres, he went up to lead untouched at the 200 metres and never looked in danger of defeat.

Resuming from a 68-day let up, the win confirmed the thoughts of Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman in giving Sunset Pass a brief reprieve after his eye-catching run for sixth at Ruakaka.

“He's done a fair bit of schooling to toughen him up a bit, which he shows good ability at,” said Bridgman. “He certainly appreciated the better footing, travelled strongly and he's a dead-set stayer.

“I'm very happy for the owners and they have been patient, which is great.

Jockey Opie Bosson said: “He's a one-paced horse and we had to get a bit of a roll into the race, but he stuck his head out and kept giving. Once he got his head in front he kept holding it there and it was pretty comfortable.

Owned by the Te Akau Sunset Pass Syndicate, he was purchased as a two-year-old by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $30,000 at the 2010 South Island Sale.

Also showing a penchant for the same trip, his dam, Janet's Chance, won three races from 1400m to 1800m. His grand-dam, Lili (Royal Ridge), recorded nine wins from 1200m to 2200m. She produced Sir Byrne Hart Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) winner Majestic Boy (Noble Bijou) who followed in the footsteps of her dam in winning seven races from 1200m to 2000m.

Back