Woodville Double

Always travelling like the winner, Bronte Lass (4 m Stravinsky - Little Dorritt, by Sadler's Wells) recorded her third win this season on May 9 in the Benchmark 75 1600 metres at Woodville. In doing so, she notched up a Te Akau double for the day!

Although trepidation crept in regarding her chances when the track went from Dead6 to Slow9 following race one, Bronte Lass travelled hugely throughout in fourth and quickening clear at the 150 metres she proved too good in winning by one and a half lengths under jockey Matt Cameron.

Running the mile in 1:41.83, Bronte Lass returned $3.40 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB.

“I had a big query regarding how she would handle pending track conditions after the surprising downgrade,” said Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman. “However, with blinkers on she did travel on the bridle which was the key to her winning chances - helping her through conditions, in a field that on paper she looked the best in the line-up.

“After the way she trialled at the beginning of the season I thought she was a mare capable of picking up three wins, and going through the grades, and having now won three is vindication.

“She has a lot more to offer and I feel she can get to stakes level next season, and although she coped with conditions she can have a break after this, as she's done plenty of travelling and is much better on top of the ground,” said Bridgman.

Owned by the Te Akau Bronte Lass Syndicate, she was purchased as a yearling by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $120,000 at the 2010 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud, and has both a richness of international bloodlines and quality about her physique to prove competitive at higher levels.

A very genuine mare in her performances, Bronte Lass now boasts a fitting record: 14:3-4-3.