Spirit Ridge Rewarded in Chairman's Hcp

Mark Smith - Saturday May 18

A welcome change of luck for the honest 9-year-old gelding Spirit Ridge (GB) in Saturday's Group III JRA Chairman's Hcp (2000m) at Doomben, his first win in over 16 months.

Spirit Ridge (centre) gets the bob (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by James McDonald for Annabel Neaham, the imported son of Nathaniel staged a two-horse war with the New Bay (GB) gelding  New Endeavour; they split the line with Spirit Ridge (GB) getting the bob. Dune Forty Five (Americain) was a length back in third.

The winner of the Group III ATC Summer Cup, Group III BRC Premier's Cup, and Listed ATC January Cup, when trained by Mark Newnham, Spirit Ridge (GB), has had a frustrating run of minor placings for Annabel Neasham, including seconds in the Group 1 The Metropolitan, Group III Tatts Cup, and Group III Newcastle Cup.

Advertisement

Purchased by De Burgh Equine/Darby Racing for 100,000 guineas at the 2019 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, Sprit Ridge (GB) advances his record to eight wins, eleven seconds, and four thirds from 44 starts with earnings of $1,156,749.

“Full credit to the horse. He just keeps going well,” stable representative Todd Pollard said.

“His first-up run in the Wagga Cup was good, and he was always in the market before the race.

“It was a bit of an ugly race. He really took off before the turn. Our other two in the race looked like they could quinella it around the corner, but they probably knocked up a little late.

What a warrior he has been for Darby Racing (image Grant Courtney)

“He’s also a big gross horse so that the first-up run would bring him on. He’ll step up to the 2400-metres, I’d imagine, now. Hopefully, he can go on with it.”

“It was a great ride by James - one of the best in the business.”

Spirit Ridge (GB) is the best of four winners from eight to race for the  Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes and Grade 1 Gamely Handicap winner Tates Creek.

By leading broodmare sire Rahy Tates Creek is a half-sister to 7-time Group 1 winner Sightseek and to the dam of the Cheveley Park Stakes, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and One Thousand Guineas heroine Special Duty,

Advertisment

Race Result - JRA Chairman's Hcp Gr3 2000m

Doomben Track: Soft(7) Time: 2:05.06
1
Spirit Ridge
- 9g Nathaniel (IRE) x Tates Creek (USA) (Rahy (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58
2
0.1
New Endeavour
- 4g New Bay (GB) x Moody Blue (IRE) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
3
1
Dune Forty Five
- 6g Americain (USA) x Candice (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 54
4
2.6
Regal Lion
- 5g Jakkalberry (IRE) x Red Delight (NZ) (Congrats (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
5
3.8
King Frankel
- 6g Frankel (GB) x You'll Be Mine (USA) (Kingmambo (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: B Shinn 57
6
4.9
Alegron
- 5g Teofilo (IRE) x Alegria (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: James Orman 56.5
7
5.5
London Banker
- 8g Tavistock (NZ) x Palos De Lago (NZ) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
8
7
Warning
- 7g Declaration Of War (USA) x Livia (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: J Byrne 54
9
7
Caprice Des Dieux
- 6g Declaration Of War (USA) x Neko (FR) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: S B Lee Rdr: Ron Stewart 54
10
7.7
Knights Order
- 9g So You Think (NZ) x Lamanka Lass (USA) (Woodman (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 60
11
8.3
Ostermeier
- 6g Lucas Cranach (GER) x Pinball Lass (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: A & T Sweeney Rdr: Cejay Graham 54
12
18.8
Stuck With You
- 8g Roc De Cambes (NZ) x Taupaki Flight (NZ) (British Banker (CAN))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: R Dolan 54
13
19
Deny Knowledge
- 6m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x The Paris Shrug (GB) (Manduro (GER))
Tnr: M C Kent Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
14
19.6
Queenmaker
- 5m Tavistock (NZ) x Ijaaza (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: Craig Williams 54
15
45.4
Kukeracha
- 6g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Portrait Of A Lady (USA) (A.p. Indy (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M R Du Plessis 55.5
More Reading...
Spirit Ridge to Target the Sydney Cup
With three top chances, Mark Newnham had a Chris Waller-like stranglehold on Saturday's Listed January Cup at Randwick, and he duly got the job done with a stayer that has a future.
Tassort Filly Too Classy at Randwick
Stakes-placed two starts back in the Listed Woodlands Stud Stakes at Scone, talented 2YO Tassort filly Wollzeile proved too classy at Randwick on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Raging Force Bolts in at Randwick
Cosmic Force 2YO Raging Force was sent around in the Group III ATC Breeder’s Plate on debut last spring finishing sixth to King Kirk and coming out of the race with an injury, but time and a patient approach has put his career back on track.
One To Watch – Randwick
After impressing on debut, the Chris Waller trained 3yo Super Seth filly Frosty Girl (NZ) took on the older mares on the Kensington track, remaining unbeaten with another stylish victory to become Breednet’s One To Watch.
Positive Build Up to Karaka Weanling Sale
Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am.
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.
Nice 2YO Winner for Vinery Value Sire
He might be the least expensive sire on the Vinery roster this spring at a fee of just $6,600, but Headwater gets his share of winners and produced a new two year-old winner at Doomben on Wednesday.
Hong Kong Buyer Secures Top Lot June (Late) Sale at $500,000
The impact of the recent success in Hong Kong of horses sourced on Inglis Digital was in evidence today, with the top lot and the third top lot bought by Hong Kong-based owners.