Win 3 Taupo - Sophisticardo Superb

Taupo racecourse has been a happy hunting ground for record-breaking trainer Jamie Richards and the meeting on 6 October was no exception, as Sophisticardo (3 g Burgundy - Glamorous Girl, by Thorn Park) made it three wins on the programme.

Off a season that realised over 160 wins, including 40 stakes' wins, in New Zealand and Australia, Richards finished with a strike rate of 4.9, which improves to 3.5 at Taupo.

Ridden by Danielle Johnson, who earlier scored aboard stable-mate Belle En Rouge (Burgundy), Sophisticardo settled back from barrier 10, chasing a competitive pace, and while urged to pick up at the 500m he responded by sustaining a strong finish to engulf a cluster of horses on his inner.

A natural type of racehorse, with a good action, Sophisticardo appears suited to better footing but got away with Slow9 conditions to clock 1:13.6 for 1200 metres and shortened in betting to pay $3.40 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

“He's is a horse that needed a couple of runs to tighten in condition and I feel he is getting there now,” Richards said.

“We've been a bit slower off the mark this season than we would have liked, but weather and a few mitigating circumstances come into, and the horses are starting to pick up.

“It's satisfying, because all the staff work incredibly hard and it makes it a bit easier to get out of bed at 3.30 each morning when the stable wins a few races. Everyone can take a lot of credit for the way the horses are presenting at the races and the way they're starting to perform.

“It was tough effort by Sophisticardo to come from as far back as he was and Danielle (Johnson) did a good job to get him into the right spot and get him balanced up.

“He raced well as a two-year-old and just taken a bit longer to get race fit in this prep.”

It was almost a year to the day that Sophisticardo produced a stylish debut win in the 2YO 800 metres on 7 October at Avondale, before a notable fourth to stable-mate On the Bubbles (Brazen Beau) in the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m).

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $30,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, owned by Te Akau Glammed Up Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

His dam, Glamorous Girl (Thorn Park), impressed winning over 1400 metres before scoring in the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m). She was runner-up in the Soliloquy Stakes (Listed, 1400m) and the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m). Successful as a broodmare, she has now left seven individual winners of 13 races.

Sophisticardo carries a cross of breed shaping stallion Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor), on the dam sides of both Burgundy and Glamorous Girl.

“That's two winners on the card for Burgundy, who was probably the fastest horse we ever trained at Te Akau,” Ellis said. “He was something else at full flight and a great athlete.

“Sophisticardo showed plenty last season as a two-year-old and I'm glad to see him follow-up with another win at three. A great job done with him by the staff, and he's got the ability to be competitive up in the grades.”

Sophisticardo was strapped by Sarah West.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz