Per Incanto 3YO breaks maiden in style
When star jockey Mark Zahra was engaged for just the one ride at Seymour on Thursday, there were plenty of punters that copped the tip as three-year-old gelding Mahershala (NZ) (Per Incanto) made a one-act affair of the Vale Ian Dickinson Maiden Plate (1000m).
The talented son of Per Incanto sports the colours of Ozzie Kheir and romped to an eased up three and a quarter length victory at his second Australian start for trainer Ciaron Maher, having placed on debut at Pakenham in February.
While things couldn’t have gone more smoothly in the run, there was drama pre-race with the second and third elects in Fast Freddie and Bright Star were late scratched after the latter reared-up in the barriers.
“With the two late scratchings, it looked like his race to lose, and it was more or less a track gallop for him,” Zahra said.
“He has been a little bit green in his jump-outs, but today was just a great experience for him.
“There was speed on, and we could sit in the one-one. He was having a look at the winning post in the final furlong, but probably because he had nothing else to look at.”
Stable representative Fergus Gregory indicated the talented galloper would be seen again prior to turning four.
By Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto, Mahershala is out of the stakes-winning Fusaichi Pegasus mare Celeris (NZ).
Presented by Haunui Farm at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Mahershala was knocked down to RTR Partnership and McKeever Bloodstock for $255,000.
Later offered at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale by Kilgravin Lodge, Mahershala failed to meet his reserve and was put into training.
A dual-trial winner in New Zealand, Mahershala won a 1100m heat at Taupo in November for trainer Glenn Old prior to his private sale to a syndicate headed by Kheir. - NZ Racing Desk
Progressive 4YO ready for open grade Te Rapa test
Late developer Bonnard (NZ) (Swiss Ace) has been in exemplary form this preparation and is in the right order to face the sternest test of his fledgling career at Te Rapa.
The Swiss Ace four-year-old will bid to extend his winning sequence when he makes his open class debut in the Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate 22/8 Mile (1600m) on Saturday.
Bonnard is unbeaten in all three appearances since returning from a break, including a last-start course and distance victory, and trainer Shane Crawford can’t fault the gelding.
“To be honest, I think there is more to come from him,” he said.
“He has been a bit of a handful, just a real busy sort of horse, and he’s come good now and I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Raced by breeder Gerry Harvey, Bonnard is comfortable rolling along in front and similar tactics are likely to again be employed by in-form apprentice Amber Riddell at the weekend.
“I’ve had a quick look at the field and he looks to be the leader, and I think that’s how it will probably play out,” Crawford said.
However, Bonnard will be equally at ease if he’s required to settle in behind the pace.
“When the day comes that something else wants to lead then he can take a sit, that doesn’t look likely to happen in this race but he’s not just a one trick pony, he’s got a few strings to his bow,” Crawford said.
“He hasn’t had much racing and he’s a nice, sound horse with plenty of good seasons left in him. I think the best is yet to come.”
He has not set a plan post Saturday, but a trip to Riccarton is a possibility.
“How far into the winter we go depends on him really, the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m) could be a nice one for him later on, but we’ll just go race by race at this stage,” Crawford said.
He is also expecting another good performance at Te Rapa from La Florida (NZ) (Swiss Ace) in the RDA Charity Raceday @ Cambridge Wednesday (1400m).
Another Harvey representative by Swiss Ace, she was a last-start third at Tauranga and will also be guided from a wide alley (19) by Riddell.
“We haven’t fared too well with the draw, but she’ll probably still run and is a nice mare that has been doing a little bit wrong in her races,” Crawford said.
“As soon as we can iron that out, she’ll be winning for sure. Even though she’s a four-year-old, she’s still a bit babyish in her ways.”
The stable will also have runners on Sunday at Matamata where Crawford has high hopes for Telperion filly Hollaback Girl (NZ) (Telperion) in the Carrfields Maiden (1400m).
Ace Lawson-Carroll will don the Harvey silks on the three-year-old who has placed once from three outings and has improved with her unplaced resuming run at Tauranga.
“She’s drawn a wide gate (17) as well, but I don’t think she’ll be too far away,” Crawford said. - Paul Vettise
Young doubles training tally at home track
Lisa Young had plenty of success as a jockey and now the Canterbury horsewoman is enjoying her time on the other side of the fence as a trainer.
Young rode for 11 seasons and won 159 races in the saddle, including two at stakes level, with her first coming on the Kevin Hughes-trained Eternal Melody (NZ) (Shinko King) in the 2003 Listed South Island 2YO Stakes (1200m).
Injury curtailed Young’s jockey career seven years later, but she continued to ride track work before working as stable foreman for Stephen Marsh’s Riccarton barn. It was when the Cambridge horseman decided to close down his South Island stable that Young decided to pursue training her own team.
“I rode a few winners and then broke my leg badly,” Young said. “I was going to come back riding, and it just wasn’t right, so I ended up putting that to bed.
“I rode work for a while and then I ran Stephen Marsh’s Riccarton barn for a few years and when he shut up shop I thought ‘bugger it, I will give it a crack’.”
Young commenced training last season, and she celebrated her first win at Riccarton in March courtesy of Shameful (NZ) (Shamexpress), and she doubled her tally at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday when Royal Assent (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns) broke through for her maiden win in the Avon City Ford Supersite Sell Out On Now Maiden (1400m).
“It was a super run, a great ride by Bridget (Grylls), she gave her a lovely trip,” Young said. “It was a tough effort because Reservoir came again and she has kicked back and done the job.”
Young said Royal Assent will now likely head to Ashburton next month.
“There is a meeting at Ashburton on July 2, it is a good money day, so it would be silly not to have a crack if the track is not too wet,” she said.
Young has eight horses in work at the moment and she is particularly excited about the future of juvenile filly Imelda Melody (NZ) (War Decree), who is set to make her debut next week.
“I have got a really nice two-year-old filly called Imelda’s Melody, she is one to watch out for,” Young said. “She is a nice, professional filly.
“She is going to have her first start next week at Riccarton and then she will probably go out for a spell.” - Joshua Smith
NZ Racing Desk
Joshua Smith
New Zealand Bloodstock
