Windborne SO Wonderful

Two from two and on her way to the Karaka Million, Te Akau bred and trained filly Windborne (2 f Darci Brahma - Sweet Dreams Baby, by Van Nistelrooy) is quickly becoming the darling of the Fortuna Windborne Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin) after a comprehensive win in the Murdoch Newell Stakes (Listed, 1100m) on Saturday Nov. 22 during the Counties Cup meeting at Avondale.

Having pocketed $12k winning on debut at Ellerslie, and a further $30k on this occasion, Windborne has streaked ahead in earnings over her juvenile counterparts in quest of a place in the $1millon New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) on Jan. 25 at Ellerslie - the eve of the yearling sales at Karaka.

Although getting away to score handsomely by one and a half lengths in the finish, Windborne had a few searching moments early in the piece under rider Matt Cameron.

“She was a little bit aggressive into the first corner, as I had to push her out of the gates just to get that vital position of being handy in a two-year-old race and the one that attacked me on the outside just got her over-racing,” said Cameron.

“Once she came back off heels she relaxed beautifully, cruised around the turn, and I waited until she straightened, got balanced, and she accelerated easily and waited for them the last little bit too.”

Starting a clear favourite ($2.20 & $1.20), not only on the manner of her untouched debut win but also having clocked a sizzling last 600m in 32.8, Windborne had the strongly supported Thwayya (Snitzel) to contend with throughout.

“I knew the second favourite [Thwayya], Danielle's (Johnson) horse, had done a fair bit of work from the outside gate to get there, without much peace, so I thought I'd get out of that speed duel and come back and do my thing and she sprinted away nicely,” said Cameron.

Cameron feels Windborne is a prime candidate for the pinnacle stakes race of the juvenile season: the Karaka Million.

“She's a little pro and you can't do much better than win two two-year-old races in a row, especially now that she's seen Ellerslie, been there done that, and like I say ‘she does everything perfect, so she's going to jump and put herself there and be hard to beat'”.

Having had her year old sister Darci's Dream (Darci Brahma) finish runner-up in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) a week earlier at Riccarton, has meant a fine time not only for the Fortuna Syndicate owners and trainer Jason Bridgman, but also for breeders David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis.  Darci's Dream had also earlier claimed the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes en route to her 1000 Guineas attempt.

“It's great to see a product of the stud coming through from Te Akau and putting it in the record books,” said Bridgman.

“She's only had one serious bit of work since her last race and it's all on natural ability. She's not overly big, but for a daughter of Darci Brahma (Danehill) she is quite a natural two-year-old type. She is an outstanding type of filly, with a lot of class and proportionally she's beautifully put together. Just a terrific temperament and she ticks a lot of boxes.”

Like Cameron, Bridgman also felt the complexities early in the race.
“I just thought that when the outside horse crossed and sat outside the leader that they were a little bit outside their comfort zones and when I saw my filly relax at that point I thought we're good now and what was surprising was how impressively she did it.

“The turn of foot at the 300m was very impressive today and she was a little bit green when hitting the front but it was an impressive performance.”

Bridgman said: “There are a lot of excited owners here and hopefully they are up at Karaka in January and buying more.”

Bridgman suggested the path for Windborne getting to the Karaka Million would probably first take her to the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Jan. 1 at Ellerslie.

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz