Winner: Insatiable Inspiring

Getting all his ducks in a row, Insatiable (6 g All Too Hard – All Day Baby, by More Than Ready) stylishly won the $40,000 Angus Meats Open Handicap 1200 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

Rewarded with victory in the Banks Peninsula Cup (Open Handicap, 1100 metres) on the course in February, Insatiable had kept closing solidly for sixth in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 12 March at Ashburton, and appeared capable of proving competitive with luck from outside draw (12).

Insatiable was suited by an upgrade in track conditions to Good3, along with a patient ride by Irishman Joe Doyle, genuine pace, and timely split at 200m, to go from idling to foot down and a terrific two-length victory.

It was one of the best winning performances by the robust galloper, weighing in around 540-kilos, and now has six victories to his credit, placing nine times, from 29 starts.

“I’m obviously thrilled with the way he won,” Doyle said. “I got a lovely track into it, off the back of Master Brutus (third). He went in and I went out, got the right split and my horse has been very good on the day.

“When he’s right, he’s a very fast horse and the way the race worked today we really saw the best of him.”

Insatiable ran the 1200 metres in a slick 1:08.3, last 600m in 33.0 (approx.), and drifted considerably on the NZ TAB tote to pay $13.70 & $3.50. 

On course, assistant trainer Hunter Durrant said: “It was a good ride by Joe (Doyle). The key to this horse is to get him in a rhythm and settled. He did that perfectly today and it showed when he ran away from the field at the end.

“He’s a pretty straightforward horse, but we all know his form does jump around and he can win when you least expect it.

“We’ve always had high hopes for him and I think there is more to come.”

Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson, added: “He’s just got to be held up for the last run and you could see how strongly he was travelling in behind them for Joe (Doyle) before he found a gap.

“He went back (10th), rode for luck, and he’s got short, sharp, sprint when you hold him up like that and get some room late.

“Hunter (Durrant) and the team had him turned out perfectly and great to see him get his second Open Handicap win.”

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 owned by Te Akau All Too Much Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“I was really impressed with his win today, the way he quickened away from them when he got through the gap, and he’s a beautiful big horse that is racing really well,” Ellis said.

“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 notable 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 the way he won suggests we should see him win more races.”

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 Stradbroke Handicap (Gr. 1, 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 Naomi Warrander. 

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