Yourdeel - Another 2YO Debut Winner

Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards unleashed another live Karaka Million prospect on Waikato Cup Day at Te Rapa, 15 December, when debutante Yourdeel (2 g Dundeel - Miss Zapper, by Red Ransom) waltzed away to win the $30,000 Wentwood Grange Premier 2YO 1200 metres.

The armoury of debut Wakefield Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m) winner Aotea Lad (Savabeel), consistent performer Challa (Dissident), impressive second-up winner Probabeel (Savabeel), and debut winner Puysegur (Fastnet Rock) sit firmly in contention for the million-dollar extravaganza, with Yourdeel adding stylishly to the mix.

Advancing nicely through the trials stage with a recent strong finishing fifth over 1000 metres on 27 November at Matamata, Yourdeel could hardly have been more impressive at his first race day outing.

Away well to position fourth on the inner, rider Opie Bosson moved Yourdeel off the rail at the 800m, stood the leader four lengths at the 600m, went to the front easily at the 300m and raced away to win by five and a quarter lengths.

“He did everything spot on today,” Bosson said. “At the trials, he would get back off them and not travel, so last time I gave him a couple round the backside and he hit the line really good. His work on Tuesday morning was top-notch and I was quite confident.

Asked if 1200 metres would be too short for him, ongoing? Bosson said: “Not at this stage, and if they run fast in the Karaka Million he could sit off them and he's got a great finish on him.”

On footing upgraded to Dead4 after race one, Yourdeel ran the 1200 metres in 1:11.3, returning $6.50 & $2.10 on the NZ TAB fixed odds and $5.90 & $1.90 on the tote.

“He trialled well in the early part of the spring, but got a bit colty so we gelded him and everything has fallen into place,” said Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards. “He's a pretty laidback sort of customer and while I didn't expect him to win that well on debut I could tell when I put him on the truck this morning that he really was in the zone.

“It's great to have a winner for Chris Rutten, and his owners John Norwood and Rod Preston. Obviously, Dave (Ellis) and Chris are pretty good mates and it's lovely to have a promising horse in the stable for them. The win has qualified him for the Karaka Million, so we'll see how he comes through it and make plans. It was a good effort by the team to get him there in really good order and it was a pretty smart win.”

“Chris bought the horse out of the Little Avondale draft at Karaka,” said John Norwood, who raced his first horse as a twenty-year-old and won the Karaka Million with Vespa (Elusive City) and Karaka Million 3YO Classic with Scott Base (Dalghar). “I have shares in all his horses and the partnership has been going since the 1970's. We try and buy two-year-old types and we've got three in training with Te Akau. Kingsman, with Mark (Walker) in Singapore, and Hierarchy is another with Jamie (Richards).”

Te Akau Principal David Ellis said: “It was a proud day for us when Chris (Rutten) gave us three horses to train and as you'd expect from such a good judge they're all magnificent individuals. To win on debut with this horse is a massive thrill and you can only do it when the horses are well educated. Jamie (Richards) is continuing to do an amazing job and Opie (Bosson) has played a big in that.

“That was Jamie's 47^th win this season, sees him at the top of the leader board, and half the horses that he's started have finished in the first three and that's not easy to do.

“It was another great ride by Opie. He got the horse balanced, didn't ask anything of him until the 200m, got him on the right leg and went for him, and that's why he's the best.

“I sat on the NZTR Board with Rod Preston, and John Norwood had been on the Wellington Racing Club board for many years and his father, Sir Walter Norwood, won the Melbourne Cup with Silver Knight. It's a great ownership team and we're thrilled to win for those guys.”

By the Champion Three-Year-Old and Horse of the Year in New Zealand, Dundeel (High Chaparral), who was also Champion Middle Distance Male in Australia, Yourdeel is from the Red Ransom mare Miss Zapper, a winner of three races from 1200m to 1900m in Australia.

Reflecting on the winner of a week ago, Aotea Lad, and Yourdeel, Paul Richards said: “A bit like the horse last week at Trentham (Aotea Lad), he was a colt, but became too colty so we cut (gelded) him and he's just turned the corner. And the addition of blinkers has made him focus.

“He's turned into a really nice horse. He's really got into the groove since being gelded and just goes about his work now. On what he's done today he could head towards the Karaka Million, because he'll derive plenty of benefit.”

Yourdeel was strapped by Kate Belsham.

Photo credit- www.raceimages.co.nz