Star Of Bombay shines brightest at Ellerslie
Te Akau Racing’s stellar season rolled on with Star Of Bombay in the $60,000 Mufhasa FastTrack Stakes (1300m) at Ellerslie yesterday, which major owner David Ellis hailed as a training masterstroke by Jamie Richards.
The clear leader in the national trainers’ premiership, Matamata-based Richards has won 88 races in New Zealand this season, including 14 at black-type level. He also grabbed two Group 1s at Randwick yesterday with Te Akau Shark and Probabeel.
The latest addition to that group is Star Of Bombay, who impressively beat a talented lineup of sprinting three-year-old.
It was the fifth career start for the daughter of ill-fated young stallion Atlante, and her first since placing behind Dragon Leap in the Auckland Guineas (1600m) on New Year’s Day. She was given a perfect ride by Ryan Elliot, trailing the on-pace pair of Madam Hass and Aretha.
Star Of Bombay pounced at the top of the straight and dashed to a clear lead out in the centre of the track. Bella Mente and Run To Perfection both flew home from the back to lodge powerful late challenges, but Star Of Bombay was going too strongly, and held on to win by threequarters of a length.
‘‘That was the win of a filly going places,’’ Ellis said. ‘‘She actually had a bit of a hiccup in the last 10 days and missed a gallop, so it’s a remarkable training performance by Jamie.
It’s not easy to go eight weeks between runs and then produce a performance like that at this level.
‘‘That’s 14 black-type wins in New Zealand this season for our stable, along with a Group 1 win by Melody Belle in Melbourne in the spring and it’s still only February.’’ Ellis bought Star Of Bombay for $50,000 at the 2018 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, and she has already exceeded that figure with three wins and two placings from five starts to date.
She is now likely to step up to Group 2 level for her next assignment – the Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham on March 14.
‘‘She jumped well and I put her just behind the leader and just had to come off, and she let down really well.’’
Jason Waddell rode Run To Perfection and was far from disappointed by his big finish for third. ‘‘It was a very good effort,.’’