Guineas aspirations for impressive debut winner
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have been waiting for better tracks to step out their promising filly Asturia (NZ) (Almanzor), and she rewarded their patience with an impressive debut win in the Rich Hill Stud 1400 at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The daughter of Almanzor had progressed nicely in her four trials, winning her 1100m heat at Te Rapa last month, and her handlers felt she was up to the task of taking on Saturday’s handy line-up of three-year-olds, which included stakes winner Excite (Wootton Bassett) and stakes performer Grocer’s Girl (NZ) (Tarzino).
Grocer’s Girl jumped away awkwardly and veered in, squeezing out Asturia and forcing her back. Jockey Michael McNab kept his composure and settled his charge four back on the fence, while Genie (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) set the pace up front.
Turning for home, Asturia had all before her, but McNab navigated her back to the rail where she showed a good turn of foot to dash up the inside of her rivals and score a three-quarter of a length victory over Genie, with a further short head back to Excite in third.
McNab was pleased with his filly’s effort following an unideal start to the race.
“She got away clean, Grocer’s Girl just jumped away awkwardly and spat us out the back a bit,” he said. “She got the run up the inside and she was good.”
Sam Bergerson said he has thought highly of Asturia for some time, and he was thrilled she was able to deliver on raceday.
“We normally wouldn’t run a filly like this in a race like this, we threw her in the deep end a bit, but we have always had a bit of time for her,” he said.
“After her trial win we scratched and waited with the wet tracks, and we thought this was a nice race with low numbers.
“I remember Opie (Bosson) galloped her a couple of weeks ago and he gave her a really good rap. Michael rode her on Wednesday and we were going in quietly confident.
“The plan was to be positive. It looked like she got a bit of a squeeze at the start, and he (McNab) was really patient. To see her sprint like that when she had to is a really good sign going forward.
“We would have been happy if she was flashing home late, but to see her do that was really exciting.”
Asturia is nominated for both the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, and Bergerson expects her to thrive over more ground.
“She is nominated for the Guineas and we think even past that she will get over a bit further,” he said. “She still has plenty of upside, so I am really excited for the ownership group. It is a great way to start her career.”
McNab scored an early double at Ellerslie when partnering the Mark Brosnan-trained Fly My Wey (NZ) (Sweynesse) to victory a race later in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 2200.
“He got a lovely spot on a good speed,” McNab said. “I travelled well and put him there a touch soon, but he won well.”
