Winner: Insatiable Goes Back to Back

Strong as an ox, Insatiable (6 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby, by More Than Ready) won the $40,000 Open Handicap 1200 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

Weighing in around 540-kilos and having got all his ducks in a row to win the corresponding race on 11 April at Riccarton, Insatiable faced a four-kilo weight increase to carry 60kg, but brought the right form to rate a top three chance and made it three wins from his last three course attempts.

Ridden by Opie Bosson, it appeared obvious that Insatiable would ease from the outside gate (7) to tail the field, which he did, and once clear after being hemmed up in the early stages of the straight he was able to capture a game Third Decree (War Decree) in the shadows of the post. 

“He can overdo things and you have to hold him up and have the last run at them,” Bosson said.

“I didn’t want to go out wide, because I didn’t want to expose him too early, so thought I’d try and weave through and he would have been dead-set unlucky if I didn’t get out. It was a good effort.”

In the race sponsored by Bush Inn, Insatiable ran 1200 metres in a brisk 1:08.3 and the recipient of some big bets he closed at $1.60 to win on the NZ TAB tote. 

On course, assistant trainer Hunter Durrant said: “It wasn’t the greatest of watch, but it’s actually how he needs to be ridden. 

“He needs cover the whole way and being put there on the line really suits him. It’s why we had Opie (Bosson) on and he’s got the job done.

“It’s really good to see him being so genuine. He could have chucked the towel in a few times, there, which he has done in the past, but he’s a happy horse and it’s showing in his racing.”

Te Akau had recorded a hat-trick of wins two days earlier at Riccarton, during the first poly-track meeting for the season, which capped a great month for the three stables: Matamata, Riccarton, and Cranbourne (Melbourne), who shared in 19 wins, including three stakes’ wins, with three Group One wins in the past 32 days, and now underway again in the second race day in May with an early double (which quickly became a treble). 

“It was another really good win by Insatiable, especially carrying that weight (60kg),” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“It was a good of Opie’s from the outside draw, just having to go back and ride for a bit of luck. 

“We’ll look to place him carefully, but Hunter (Durrant) and the team have got him going really well and he’s a horse that keeps getting better every season.”

Now the winner of seven races, Insatiable was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $190,000 at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Windsor Park Stud, and is owned by the Te Akau All Too Much Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“I was really impressed with his last start win on course and thought today he would have to be very brave to carry the increased weight,” Ellis said.

“Weight stops a train, as the saying goes, but he was able to get there carrying 60kg and it was a great ride by Opie (Bosson). 

“He’s a credit to the training team, the way they’ve managed him and if he’s not winning, then he’s generally not far away. 

“He’s always been a good horse, but required time to fill out into a big frame, and the last couple of seasons his form has been really solid.

“He’s got some great owners, including All Black Anton Lienert-Brown, who also has a share in a Group One winner we train, Captured By Love. 

“Insatiable has been a really good horse for his owners and although he’s getting up in the ratings now, I think the team will find a few more races for him to a winning chance in.”

The sire of Insatiable, All Too Hard (Casino Prince), is a half-brother to the unbeaten champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), who won all 25 starts, including 15 Group One wins, while also the sire of Queensland Horse of the Year Alligator Blood, Champion Sprinter in Hong Kong, Wellington, and multiple Group One winners Behemoth and Forbidden Love. 

All Too Hard is also the sire of Stefi Magnetica, the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) winner and 2023/24 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in Australia. 

Dam All Day Baby is by international sire More Than Ready (Southern Halo). A world-renowned stallion, More Than Ready has been Champion Sire in both hemispheres, proved to be an outstanding sire of sires, and going from strength-to-strength as a broodmare sire.

Insatiable was strapped by Katie Dennett. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz