Courage key to Maygrove’s win
MAYGROVE called on all his reserves of courage to claim Saturday’s Feilding Gold Cup (2100m) at Awapuni.
From the powerful Cambridge barn of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, he displayed the class and fortitude that typifies runners from the hugely successful stable.
The son of Authorized gained compensation after being devoid of luck at his previous start in the Jakkalberry Classic at Rotorua when ridden by Matthew Cameron.
Johnathan Parkes took the reins for Saturday’s Listed feature and he rode the 7-year-old grey gelding brilliantly.
From a wide gate Parkes quickly had his mount settled kindly outside the pacemaker and in a gutsy move took control of the race with 600m left to run.
They were left a sitting duck for the chasers, but Parkes confidence in his mount was well founded and they held strongly to beat outsider Alinko Prince with Snow Secret battling well for third.
It was a great ride,’’ Forsman said. ‘‘He had to overcome a wide draw and a big weight, but the ride was a perfect.’’
Racing in the colours of prominent owner Lib Petagna, Maygrove boosted his earnings beyond $400,000 with his eighth win.
The win came soon after stablemate Deals In Heels had won at Tauranga and around the same time the shattering confirmation came that another stablemate Jon Snow had been ruled out of Melbourne Cup contention.
‘‘It hasn’t been the best of days, but it was really good to see Maygrove win so well,’’ Forsman said.
On Friday Jon Snow and all other Cup entries underwent a mandatory veterinary inspection.
He passed the inspection but needed to pass a further vet check on Saturday before receiving the go ahead to remain in the field when the final payment was due on Saturday evening.
A heel issue proved the stumbling block and Jon Snow will be in his Flemington box when the field lines up in the Cup on Tuesday afternoon.
A daughter of Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal showed her talent in the Rating 65 over 1550m.
Almost 16 years after her dam won the big race held on the first Tuesday of November, the daughter of Rip Van Winkle stormed to victory.
‘‘It’s funny, it’s sort of that time of year come next Tuesday [Melbourne Cup day],’’ said Steven Ramsay who trains Seraphim with Julia Ritchie for Sir Peter Vela. ‘‘’’So it’s pretty special winning today.
‘‘I think she will get over more ground and we’d like to get some GRANT MATTHEW/STUFF black-type for Sir Peter.
‘‘When she can relax and get into her rhythm she can ping off some pretty good sectionals.’’
Vela raced Ethereal with his late brother Philip and her Cup double in 2001 has led to a successful broodmare career with several of her progeny winning races.
Seraphim has won twice from 10 starts and appears to have a bright future judging by Saturday’s clear cut win for jockey Danielle Johnson.
The Redcraze Bowl (1400m) saw a return to form of quality galloper Shadows Cast ridden by Alysha Collett.
The convincing win confirmed trainer Mark Oulaghan’s plans to head to Riccarton for the Group III Coupland’s Mile with the son of Per Incanto.
’’We kept him a bit on the fresh side,’’ he said. ‘‘He’s really healthy at the moment. He’ll go down for the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile after that.’’
The Ron Cunningham-owned galloper is a $14 shot for the $250,000 race on November 15. SHAUNE Ritchie’s end-of-holiday blues were quickly overcome at Tauranga, where his diminutive filly Global Thinking stood tall at the expense of her fellow 3-yearolds on Saturday.
The Cambridge trainer returned from a family vacation in Samoa late on Friday night and the daughter of So You Think presented him with a tidy welcome home present when she won the Gartshore 1200.
‘‘We elected to ride her cold today, we’ve probably been riding her upside down and closer to the pace when chasing Prom Queen and she’s not in her grade,’’ Ritchie said.
Global Thinking was subsequently pulled out of the upcoming 1000 Guineas at Riccarton but she’s still in line for a trip to the South Island.
‘‘I see her as a filly that might be really suited to the Dunedin, Gore and Southland Guineas after Christmas,’’ Ritchie said. ‘‘It looks the perfect scenario for her. I’d expect her to be very competitive in those sorts of races.
‘‘The travel wouldn’t worry her. She’s got a sweetheart of a nature and while she’s small, she tries very hard.
‘‘She’s quite well-bred and they’re only three once, so some black-type would serve her very well for later on.’’
Out of a General Nediym mare, Global Thinking settled at the back of the small field at Tauranga before finishing generously under rider Mark Du Plessis to claim the second win of her eight-start career.
Du Plessis completed an early double winning the second race on the Tony Pike-trained Carson River.
The son of Swiss Ace had been dogged by wet tracks and bad draws but was able to overcome gate 10 to score a deserved win.
The open 1300m saw a strong finish carry favourite Deals In Heels to a gallant win for jockey Mat Cameron.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained mare is likely to tackle black-type company at her next start.
She is in line to join stablemate Francaletta in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on November 25.
‘‘She’s only got one or two more runs in this preparation so we’d like to have a crack at a stakes race,’’ Forsman said. ‘‘When we saw that there was a bit of rain in the forecast for Tauranga we started to think it might be a nice option.’’
‘ It was a great ride’ ANDREW FORSMAN