Schofer brings up century at Wanganui

Leading apprentice jockey Hazel Schofer reached one of her major goals of the season at Wanganui on Thursday, bringing up 100 wins.

The Taranaki hoop was just one win shy of the milestone heading into Thursday’s meeting and Schofer thought promising two-year-old Yeaboi could be the horse to get her there in the Spooner Dry Cleaners 2YO (1200m).

Her assessment was correct, and the son of Belardo got up to win by a short-head over Queen Of Spades for Schofer’s employer, Allan Sharrock.

“Yeaboi had won both of his trials and I have ridden most of his jumpouts and work. He is a really progressive and strong two-year-old and I always knew he was going to go well,” Schofer said.

“I made it an aim for the season two months ago to get to 100, so it was good to tick it off.”

The win also extends Sharrock’s season tally to 52 wins, his best mark to date, and Schofer said he has been instrumental in her bid for the National Apprentice Jockey Premiership this season.

“Allan has been a massive support, especially this season,” she said. “I have ridden a lot of horses for him and luckily enough a lot of them have been winners.”

Schofer currently has a 13-win lead over Canterbury apprentice Kozzi Asano, who was victorious earlier on the card aboard Queen Constantine.

The race for the premiership title has added some extra stress to the end of the season for Schofer and she said she is looking forward to a well-deserved break in a couple of weeks.

“It is a little bit stressful. I am just trying to focus on riding and not think about it (premiership) too much on raceday. I am definitely counting down the days,” she said.

“I am going down for the Winter Cup and then taking a few days off after that and cruise around the South Island. That will be well-needed by the time we get to that.”

Jennifer Eccles’ auction now live on Gavelhouse Plus

The much-anticipated auction of Group One winner Jennifer Eccles has launched on plus.gavelhouse.com.

Bidding will run through on the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks and multiple Group Two winner until 7pm (NZ) on Friday 23 July.

Free of Danehill, Jennifer Eccles is by Galileo’s son Rip Van Winkle, sire of topliners Te Akau Shark and Subpoenaed. Her dam Platinum Elle is stakes-placed and is in turn out of Group Three performer Lady Tee, a daughter of Zabeel.

Syndicate manager Adrian Clark has revealed that Jennifer Eccles is suitable to race on, with a comprehensive veterinary work up completed recently.

“There has been widespread interest in Jennifer Eccles and rightly so, how often do you get the chance to buy a NZB Filly of the Year – they are nearly always tightly held by breeders,” Clark said.

“The prospect of offering Jennifer Eccles via the Gavelhouse Plus online platform was always an attractive option for me.

“It meant that we could give her an appropriate yearling sale-style preparation at Woburn Farm and they’ve done a fantastic job.

“It also meant she could have a day at the vet clinic for a comprehensive once-over including x-rays, scans, a breeding certificate and video-scope and I felt fortunate to have the services of Dr Douglas Black for that process.

“The other aspect was that it felt like the ‘right fit’ as Jennifer was purchased at the New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling Sale, she went on to win their coveted NZB Filly of the Year title and now she’s being offered through New Zealand Bloodstock’s online platform, gavelhouse.com.”

View Jennifer Eccles’ wins at three years: https://youtu.be/8Y8RAliZIhc
Parade footage: https://youtu.be/zs3QcvGfhsI

New buyers to Gavelhouse Plus are reminded that they must register well in advance to be granted bidding approval. For assistance contact General Manager Haylie Martin: [email protected] P: +64 22 637 8127

Other contacts:

Adrian Clark (Syndicate Manager): +64 274 954 264

Adrian Stanley/Hannah Kettlety (Woburn Farm): +64 274 187 304

Shaune Ritchie (Co-trainer): +64 21 404 133

NZB Insurance carrot for Cambridge winners

New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance has thrust their support behind the new Cambridge Synthetic track, with a $10,000 bonus up for grabs at the next meeting on July 28 for several runners set to contest the three-year-old set weights and penalties race over 1550m.

The Stephen Marsh-trained Miss Cartier was the first to become eligible for the prize when winning the NZB Insurance $10,000 Bonus Heat on June 16, with the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Encantador claiming the second heat on June 30, and on Wednesday the Jim Collett-trained gelding Canchero collected the third heat after breaking his maiden over 1300m.

Should the winner of the final race, held on Wednesday 28 July, have also won one of the three NZB Insurance $10,000 Bonus Heats, the owners will receive a $10,000 bonus on top of the winning stake money thanks to NZB Insurance.

Queen Constantine impressive at Wanganui

Queen Constantine recorded her first New Zealand victory at Wanganui on Thursday when taking out the Rosser Underwriting & Fasttrack Insurance 2060m.

Backed into favouritism ($2.90), with apprentice jockey Kozzi Asano aboard, Queen Constantine took up a front-running role and was never hampered by her competition, running away to a comfortable 3-3/4 length victory.

The European import had previously started four times in New Zealand for owner Kevin Hickman of Valachi Downs, each on dead footing but seemed to relish an extra amount of give on Thursday for trainers Stephen Autridge and Kris Shailer.

“She hadn’t really fired in two starts at Ruakaka, but she’d shown in track work to be a fairly handy horse so we trekked down in the hope of winning at Wanganui,” Autridge said.

“She’s a lovely little mare, a real cracker, and we’re pleased to get the win. Now with that under her belt, there’s no reason she can’t go on with it. Who knows, she might get some black type in a staying race with some give in the ground heading into spring.

“Kevin (Hickman, Valachi Downs Principal) and Rick Wylie bought her overseas. She won three up to 2200m and let’s hope we can win another three here. She’s not big, but she’s very strong and they said in Europe that she just keeps going.”

Autridge said the next assignment for Queen Constantine could be over 2000m at New Plymouth on July 24.

Meanwhile, Autridge is excited about several stable prospects ahead of spring racing. 

“At Valachi, the spring team is warming up,” he said. “We’ll have 25 horses to trial in the next month and we should have a bit of fun.”

Vincent is Truly Reliable

Trainer Ray Vincent is optimistic he can claim his first stakes victory at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Ray Vincent will saddle up Truly Reliable in the Listed Drummond Golf Belmont Classic (2200m).

Vincent believes his confidence in Truly Reliable measuring up is warranted following his encouraging third in last fortnight's Listed Aquanita Stakes (2000m).

The three-year-old son of Reliable Man finished two lengths shy of Tena Koutou, but Vincent says the way he finished the race off was reassuring.

With Shelby Bowtell aboard, Truly Reliable was doing his best work late and ran through the line strongly after coming from a midfield position.

After a 1300m Northam maiden win in May, it was the third consecutive minor placing for Truly Reliable at his eighth career start.

"I thought his last 100m was really strong," Vincent told The Races WA.

"He's still doing a few things wrong and wanted to over race early.

"I think now that he's had that run over the journey he will generally improve.

"I think he is definitely looking for 2200m and I was happy to press ahead."

Truly Reliable has drawn barrier one in the Belmont Classic. Bowtell retains the ride.

Vincent said Tena Koutou, currently $6.50 with Tabtouch, is the horse to beat.

"I'm not going to say we can turn the tables on Tena Koutou, it's hard to be that confident," Vincent said.

"But he has pulled up super and is going into the race where I want him to be.

"He doesn't do a lot of work between races, mainly treadmill work and a couple of gallops.

"I don't put a saddle on him and it seems to hit the spot and work for him.

"That's another reason why I was impressed with his last run.

"He hasn't had that traditional build up to a staying trip with the miles in his legs.

"It's exciting to have the opportunity of working with a promising horse.

"It's great to be involved in a feature race."

Truly Reliable was purchased by Toro Bloodstock as a yearling out of Westbury Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock draft before returning to the auction ring later that year when consigned by Riversley Park at the Ready To Run Sale. He was knocked down to Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $140,000.