Ultimate-ly Very Good

A four length winner on debut, Pinultimate stepped up in grade with a gritty performance to make it two from two in the $10,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Rating 65 1200 metres on 8 November at Otaki.

Nicely placed by trainer Jamie Richards, Pinultimate was eligible for the $11,500 Pearl Series bonus, which provided a substantial advance in prize money for owners in the Te Akau Pinultimate Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Giving rider Johnathan Parkes his third of four wins on the card, Pinultimate positioned handily on the inner from barrier two, with a competitive pace, lifted to an advantage when asked to extend nearing the 200m and after finding a couple of lengths she stuck to her guns in holding two immediate dangers at bay.

Perceptively noted, commentator Tony Lee said: “She was very diligent in her effort to win a strong race, especially in the worst of the going on the inside”.

On footing downgraded after race one to Slow7, Pinultimate ran the 1200 metres in 1:12.9 and strongly supported she paid $2.40 & $1.40 on the tote.

“She's a filly that's obviously got a bit of class about her, winning two from two like that, and pretty versatile as well to win on a good track and then a slow track,” Richards said.

“The aim was to give her a trip away to help learn what the racing caper is all about and she's done a great job.

“It was a good ride by Johnathan (Parkes). He's a busy sort of rider, which probably suits her. She kept up a good gallop all the way to the line and it was a good tough win.

“I'm pleased for the horse, the owners, and the team at the main stable. She's not the easiest of fillies and I'm sure with a bit of a freshen-up now she can come back in good order and hopefully prove good enough to work through to stakes' class.”

Prior to racing, Pinultimate was a strong finishing third at the trials to stable-mate Our Flying Ace (Darci Brahma), another that won his first two starts before finishing second in the Barneswood Farm Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) at Ashburton.

“It was great for the owners to win on debut, so to step up immediately in the next grade certainly suggests she has the ability,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis, who purchased the filly as yearling for $36,000, from the draft of Monovale Farm, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale.

“She's another good horse that we've bought from Mononvale. Max and Joe Smithies are doing a great job running their business and I'm thrilled for them as they kept a share in the filly.

“Opie (Bosson) rode her in training last Thursday and told me that she worked enormously, so we weren't surprised to see her go very well again.

“She really showed some ticker. She was under a bit of pressure from the 600m, didn't appear to be handling the slow track that well, but it was great to see her fight so hard. Johnathan (Parkes) is riding in great form. He's a seriously good rider and being a tall guy he has to be extremely disciplined to maintain his weight and it's a real credit to him. I'm always happy when I see him on our horses and he's developed a good record.

“It was a great win for the owners, collecting the Pearl Series' Bonus, and it's a New Zealand Bloodstock initiative that really makes a difference.”

The fourth individual winner from Lost in Dubai, a 1200-metre winner from a handful of starts in Australia, whose progeny have won 15 races, Pinultimate is a half-sister to Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) runner-up Star Treasure (Lonhro), from the family of 2016 Karaka Million winner Xiong Feng (Iffraaj) and triple Group One winner of the Cox Plate, Orr Stakes, and Yalumba Stakes, Maldivian (Zabeel).

Pinultimate was strapped by Meg Lambert.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz