Premier Day and beyond
Two Go Racing horses made their presence felt at Premier Day at Trentham on Saturday.
Seize the Moment, back on one of his favourite stomping grounds, won convincingly and confirmed his preference for the left-handed track.
Trainer Stephen Marsh says, “We used Melbourne Cup Day at Ellerslie as a final test on a clockwise circuit and a poor performance convinced me. He showed on Saturday just what he can do when he gets the conditions to suit.”
A wide barrier was a concern but tactics to go forward and sit outside the leader paid handsomely. “Although there was plenty of pressure on early, Leith rode him very kindly and he had plenty left in the tank at the end, if he had needed it.”
Racing Manager Albert Bosma concurs, “He’s a special horse, able to give two bursts of speed at either end of the race. Not many can do that. The other thing is he is very tractable. He waits for the jockey to tell him what to do and then responds beautifully.”
His next main aim will be back at Trentham in the $70,000 Group 3 Anniversary Handicap over 1600 metres on the 16th of January.
The phone hasn’t stopped ringing since Black Sav’s sensational run from last in the three-year-old 1400 metres. Ridden very conservatively and from a wide barrier, the filly found herself at the back of the field for most of the race but kicked into another gear in the home straight to storm home for fourth.
Says Albert, “She was less than one and half lengths off the winner. It’s pretty special to produce a performance like that.”
The Waipukarau meeting on Sunday rounded out the Go Racing podium with a second and a third.
Petite Midas lined up in the maiden three-year-old fillies race wearing blinkers for the first time. With the addition of the gear and from a handy barrier 4 draw she got a nice run through for second.
Says Albert, “We had Kelly Myers back in the saddle who had previously ridden her for a close second so we weren’t surprised by the good performance. It was a perfect ride – she jumped well, was well positioned, and, up against a strong field, she produced a strong finish beaten by a neck.”
Finally, Elusive Boxers was back on track after a long spell. “She’s had a change of training scene and we took the blinkers off,” explains Albert.
From barrier 11 she got right back in the race and was ridden patiently by Darryl Bradley showing good speed in the home straight. Albert says, “She managed to avoid most of the traffic but got knocked half way down the straight, which we believe cost her first or second place, finishing strongly for third. She has come back well and will be winning at short notice.”