Ritchie’s up-and-coming stayer has lots more to Offer
Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie has clear plans for impressive Te Rapa winner Twilight Offer.
The Darci Brahma 3-year-old filly stamped herself as a stayer of the future with her win at the expense of the older horses over 2100m in Rating 65 company on Saturday.
Twilight Offer rallied strongly after an interrupted run to snatch victory in the final few strides off Single Shot.
“She is a very determined filly and when she gets into her stride she really wants to compete and give it her all,” Ritchie said.
“She gets her head right down and has a real go like those good stayers so I’m very excited about her prospects for the future.”
Ritchie will send the filly for a spell and work her through the staying ranks when she returns with an eye on next summer’s Dunstan Stayers Championship series.
Twilight Offer is a daughter of Genuine Offer who won five races and finished fourth at Group II level in the Counties Cup and the Waikato Cup.
“The filly will go to the spelling paddock for a month now as she doesn’t really cop the wet tracks,” Ritchie said.
“She’s a lot like her mother who was a tough, uncompromising type of staying mare.
“This filly had been a bit disappointing early on but she’s starting to live up to her pedigree now.”
Twilight Offer is raced by the Galaxy Racing No 2 Syndicate managed by John Davey of Te Awamutu.
“John puts together the odd syndicate and this is the second horse they’ve had with me,” Ritchie said.
“The first one was Broadway Express and she won a couple so they are doing alright.”
While Twilight Offer goes for a spell Ritchie’s young talent is returning to the stable in preparation for spring racing.
“I’ve got some lovely rising 3-year-old fillies back in work,” he said.
“Let Her Rip, Sally’s Mustang, Promise To Pay and a number of trial winners have returned to the stable which is exciting.
“We will have a nice little team of 3-year-olds and we spent nearly a million dollars on yearlings this year so we’ll hopefully have some nice two-year-olds as well.”
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