Ideal placement by Mark Walker and a perfect ride from Opie Bosson at Awapuni on Friday paved the way for Aromatic to comfortably add further stakes success to her record.
The Matamata trainer sent the six-year-old south for the Gr.3 Martin Collins NZ Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) and in the skilled hands of Bosson the mare proved a class above her rivals.
It completed another successful day for the Te Akau stable, who had earlier triumphed with Accidental Tourist in the Murray Free Contracting Ltd/Chris Gommans & Sons Contracting 3YO (1400m).
Well-suited by the weight-for-age conditions of the race, Aromatic was sent forward from a wide barrier and slotted into fourth spot one off the rail and was poised to strike at the top of the straight.
“The ride won the race, gee it was a 10 out of 10, just a brilliant ride by Opie,” Walker said.
The grey daughter of Sacred Falls lengthened stride on the Good 4 surface to forge clear and account for Kelly Coe, who enjoyed an economical run in the trail, and the frontrunner Love For All.
“She is so much more effective on wet ground but with no disrespect to the rest, they weren’t the A-graders today.
“She still had to be good to win and she was strong in the last part of the race.”
Aromatic had won the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) in the spring and finished runner-up in both the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) and the Listed Staphanos Classic (1950m) and was third in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m).
“She’s always had soundness issues, but this season as an older and more mature mare she has really found her form,” Walker said.
Following time off, she finished runner-up last month in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) before she was denied room in the straight when sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
“She was a bit unlucky the other day and it wasn’t the fault of Joe (rider, Kamaruddin), she just had nowhere to go,” Walker said.
“She wouldn’t have won, but she would have got in the money so that was pretty good form for today.
“As long as we’re happy with her, she will press on to the Travis Stakes (Gr.2, 2000m) at Te Rapa at the end of the month.”
Aromatic was purchased out of breeder Milan Park’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by Te Akau chief David Ellis for $160,000 and is a daughter of the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (2000m) winner Vickezzchardonnay.
Telperion three-year-old Accidental Tourist had earlier showed his talent, and unpredictability, when he bombed the start to settle at the tail of the field against his age group rivals.
He was still last at the top of the straight before unwinding powerfully for rider Michael McNab to down Navigator and Elcheikhali.
“He’s just getting stronger physically, but mentally he’s still hard work,” Walker said.
“He walked out of the gates and seems to get a new trick every meeting he goes to, but he can gallop and is highly talented. He will continue get better as time goes on.
“We’ll get him home and look over him and then make a plan from there.”
Accidental Tourist, who placed in the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1340m) in the spring, was purchased by Ellis out of breeder Westbury Stud’s consignment at Karaka for $80,000 and is a half-brother to the Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) winner Red Striker. – NZ Racing Desk
