Breeders battle to Gold Fever
HOT fields contested the 2-yearold features at a warm Matamata race meeting yesterday.
There was talk of Golden Slippers and various other rich Group I challenges for Summer Passage and Gold Fever after their respective wins.
Gold Fever was brilliant winning the Group II Matamata Breeders Stakes from an equally gallant runner-up Joyfilly while Summer Passage endorsed the high opinion of his connections
The Snitzel colt beat his juvenile counterparts in the Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper after being bought for A$800,000 by Wexford Stables at last year’s Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.
Gold Fever, a daughter of Savabeel was bought as a Gold Coast yearling by Team Te Akau for $110,000 and the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richardstrained filly will head in a Group I direction.
The speed was on in the Breeders and top jockey Opie Bosson landed Gold Fever in the perfect spot just off pace.
She had a home stretch tussle with Joyfilly and was able to produce enough to grab the bulk of the $100,000 stake.
‘‘She got a lovely run on a breakneck speed,’’ Richards said. ‘‘She’s super tough with a massive heart.
‘‘She’s a filly with a tough attitude but come race day she’s hard to get past.’’
The half-sister to Gold Rush winner of last year’s Breeders Stakes, is a tough nut and has taken some educating.
Bosson took his hat off to fellow jockey Cameron Lammas who did the early work on her.
‘‘He taught her what to do,’’ Bosson said. ‘‘She’s a tough filly and not the easiest to ride.’’
Gold Fever ran the 1200m in 1:10.04 beating Joyfilly with pacemaker Santuzza fighting hard for third ahead of Princess Rihanna.
Summer Passage had the benefit of an inside draw in the $50,000 Listed feature at his home track, and rider Craig Grylls was out to make the most of that advantage.
He worked hard on the colt in the first 100 metres, beating out I Got You and Aim Smart to come out on top in a frenetic early battle for the lead.
Carrying the same colours as Livamol Classic winner Willie Cazals, Summer Passage kicked away from his quality rivals.
Trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, the colt still holds a nomination for next month’s A$3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill, but that is currently considered only an outside chance.
The Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick on April 1 is also a possibility.
‘‘When you buy horses like this for big money, you want them to justify it by performing well,’’ Scott said. ‘‘For him to come out today and improve in the manner we thought he would was very pleasing.
‘‘He had to withstand a lot of early pressure, they went hell for leather at the start. He had every entitlement to be run down in the straight, but he kicked off the corner and held on strongly.’’
Summer Passage still holds a nomination for next month’s Golden Slipper at Rosehill but that is currently considered an outside chance. The Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick on April 1 is also a possibility.
‘‘We’ll have a meeting with Lance and the owners on Monday and make a plan then,’’ Scott said. ‘‘The Sires could be a nice option - it’s worth A$1 million.’’
VON Tunzelman won the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) but the 5-year-old has bigger mountains to climb.
Trainer Roger James was coy on future plans but the past has been carefully scripted to ensure the best is yet to be seen of the stylish grey 4-year-old.
His 10th start, produced his fourth win at his biggest challenge as he scooted around wide on the turn and rallied strongly under pinch-hitting jockey Michael Coleman.
‘‘I thought he was at the top of his game today,’’ James said. ‘‘His work on Tuesday was that of an absolute topliner.’’