RIDE OF THE WEEK

Sam Weatherley - Freeze Frame

Jumping from the outside barrier, Sam elected to be patient early and settle at the rear end of the field. Entering the straight the pair had a lot of ground to make up on the leaders, this is where Sam made the call to stay toward the inside and ride for luck, rather than looping the field out wide. Picking a path between runners, Sam was able to fully extend the horse and the pair dived through a gap right on the line to score a scintillating win by a Short Head. Sam’s experience as a senior rider showed here as he was able to save ground and give the horse the room, he needed to hit top gear.

OFF THE MARK

Abdul Najib

Having just his third race day ride in New Zealand, following a 2^nd and 3^rd placing at his two prior (on the same day), Abdul Najib was not to be denied his first winner on our shores. A 12-time race winner in Malaysia before transferring to New Zealand to join the South Island titans, Michael & Matthew Pitman. It was a strong ride from the apprentice aboard My World on Friday and with the continued support of the Pitman barn, all signs suggest we will see plenty more of his talent in months to come. 

RUNNING HOT

Patsy Spirit

It’s hard to deny Patsy Spirit the running hot title after he scored two wins in 3 days. Supported in the market on Day 1 of the celebrated Cromwell carnival, Patsy Spirit was brave when fending the field off to and secure his first race day win under Jasmine Fawcett. As many have famously done in the past, he backed up on the Sunday over 1400m where he had a wide draw to contend with. But Jasmine Fawcett took this out of the equation and the pair went straight to an early lead. From there, it was the tenacity he showed on Day 1 to the fore and he gave a strong kick in to the straight which was not to be pulled back and the pair bagged a winning double. 

GAP JOB

Zabmanzor

An even field of 3YO’s lined up to chase black type here in the Elsdon Park Wellington Stakes. But it was the son of Almanzor who reigned supreme. Zabmanzor was taken back in the field early in the run and a top ride from Masa Hashizume saw the pair avoid any trouble entering the straight as they kept momentum up and circled the field. In a matter of a handful of strides, the pair had put the race to bed, and it was just a matter of ‘how far?’. Zabmanzor was full of running down the straight where he recorded the fastest 800m, 600m, 400m & 200m closing sectionals and a winning margin of 4 lengths. He has raised his hand early as a potential New Zealand Derby candidate.

FIRST-UP FOLLOW 

Waitak

Sent out a short, priced favourite and given a gun run from the ace draw by Joe Doyle, stalking the leaders in the trailing position, there were few runners who were travelling better than him at the top of the straight. A stakes winning 3YO from last season, we have always known he possesses plenty of ability. Once he was asked for an effort by Joe Doyle, he put the race away pretty quickly. The strong win fresh up suggests he will find himself back in stakes company pretty quickly and he looks like a horse who is still on the rise.