John Bell has always had plenty of time for Spanish Lad and his patience has paid off with the well-bred three-year-old breaking maidens comfortably in the Martin Collins New Zealand MAAT 1550 at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday.

A son of Shocking out of Group One performer Celebrity Miss, Spanish Lad had a trio of races in the spring period but took until the following winter to show his true capabilities. Fresh-up over 1300m on the synthetic surface, he ran on with merit and was suited to the step-up in distance a fortnight later.

Ridden assertively out of the gates by Sam Spratt, Spanish Lad settled into the trialling position behind pacemaker Miss Bee and eased off the rail as the field rolled down the back straight. Spratt began to press the gelding turning for home and he showed a strong kick to pull away from Claimed Gift and Lemon Curd, who chased gamely to fill the minors.

Bell praised the ride of Spratt and was pleased to see his expectations being met by Spanish Lad. 

“Sam got him out of the gates really well, so he was in an attacking position right from the start,” Bell said.

“When he swung into the straight, she had him off the rail and he did what was expected, to run on. He did that in his last start, ran home beautifully from back in the field.

“He’s a beautifully bred horse, he’s got a big future because he’s still a youngster.

“We’ll see what happens from here, he’ll let us know. We won’t be pushed at all because he’s still immature.”

Spanish Lad was bred and is raced by Elizabeth Martin, while Celebrity Miss was bred by her late mother Ada Parnwell. The Civics mare won seven races including the Listed Jakkalberry Classic (1950m) and placed in the 2015 Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) behind Addictive Habit. 

Bell will be represented by two runners at Rotorua on Thursday, with Ata Rangi reverting back to the flat after making a solid debut over hurdles at Hastings in late June.

A winner of five races on the flat, the son of Haradasun will contest the Have Your Function At Arawa Park 1950 with Ryan Elliot in the saddle. 

“He’s very fit and the ground will suit him. He’s been over the hurdles and is a gutsy horse who always tries,” Bell said.

Also wearing the stable’s familiar lime green and maroon silks will be Hot Salsa, who will be out for an improved run among a small field in the Sherlock Contracting 1400.

“Hot Salsa has a huge amount of talent but has never had any luck in his entire racing career. It’s always been one thing or another with him,” Bell said.

“We’re pulling some weight off him with a very nice rider in Triston (Moodley) claiming two kilograms, so hopefully we can get a positive result for him as well."