Given an armchair ride in front by Chelsea Burdan, Meteoric Lass (5 m Stratum – Benatar, by Distant Music) proved too good winning the $25,000 JA Russell Electrical Rating 72 1400 metres on 14 November at Awapuni.
The win provided trainer Jamie Richards with three wins on consecutive days, following Ginger Too (Iffraaj) on Tuesday at Te Aroha and Leaderboard (Street Cry) on Wednesday at Riccarton.
A genuine competitor and aided by weight relief to 53.5kgs, Meteoric Lass presented in terrific order, sprang barrier nine to lead, and after travelling sweetly it looked pretty obvious approaching the home turn that she had matters under control. Winning by nearly two lengths, Meteoric Lass ran the 1400 metres in a respectable 1:24.1 on footing upgraded a race earlier to Dead5 and paid $5.10 & $2.10 on the NZ TAB tote.
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“She tries hard and had been knocking on the door, so it was good to see her get a well-deserved win,” said stable foreman Mason Stevens, standing in for Jamie Richards who was at the Matamata Stables. “She’s always shown a lot, right from the start when winning her first two.”
“We had planned to go forward, ideally sitting half a length off the leader, but she took up the speed,” Richards said. “She went quickly enough, but with her allowance and the way the track was playing she got away with it. She’s a mare with good consistent form and I was really pleased to see her win because John (Galvin) backed our judgement that we could keep her sound, after an injury last season, and thankfully it’s all come together well. There’s now a chance she can get through to the next grade and possibly pinch some black type somewhere. She’s best placed with a little bit of easing in the ground and I think she enjoyed the track today.The team at the main stable, Tracy Collis and Kate Belsham, have done a great job in getting her to the races in such good order. She’s got a lovely demeanour and a stable favourite.”
Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for A$50,000 at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Kitchwin Hills, Meteroic Lass is owned by the Fortuna Meteoric Lass Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin). Only once further back than fourth, her consistency is reflected in the record: three wins, two seconds, a third, and three fourths, from 10 starts. She is a sister to dual stakes winner Meteoroid (Northern Meteor), who won eight times over 1200m/1400m in Australia, from a mare that has left four winners of 16 races.
Fortuna Syndications Manager John Galvin said after the race: “This Mare really deserves this win, she had been a bit slow to mature and patiently handled to win her first two starts and then she had an injury setback in January of this year – we gave her plenty of time to come right and this preparation she has been knocking on the door without quite doing enough to win. At the end of day she is a hell of a nice horse and David Ellis has, once again, done a great job in selecting another multiple winning horse within our budget range – and Jamie has done a great job managing her through her issues”
Meteoric Lass is owned and raced by the Fortuna Meteoric Lass Syndicate, an Ownership Group of 36 individuals and was strapped by Tom Harrison.
Story Credits to Jeff Dore