Happy holiday return

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.