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.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 30
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
VRC Oaks contender headlines November (Early) Online Sale
An exciting opportunity is presented in the Inglis Digital November (Early) Online Sale next week when a share in a runner bound for Thursday’s $1m G1 VRC Oaks is offered.
MRC locks in leadership as Tanya Fullarton named CEO and Jonathan Munz joins as Vice Chairman
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has confirmed two major leadership appointments, naming Tanya Fullarton as Chief Executive Officer and leading business person, owner, and breeder Jonathan Munz as Vice Chairman.
Tabitha Ridley-Thomas Joins Magic Millions Bloodstock Team
Australia's leading thoroughbred auctioneer Magic Millions has boosted it's impressive Bloodstock Team with news Tabitha Ridley-Thomas has this week joined the company.
First Stakes Win for Nathaniel's Spirit Ridge
With 11 wins from 17 starts including two at the elite level, the Yellow Ribbon Stakes and Gamely Handicap, Tates Creek had all the attributes to make an outstanding contribution as a broodmare for Juddmonte Farms.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes
Derby Day! It's the race day for purists, when the biggest and best pedigrees tend to be on show, and their merits are tested over all distances.
Henry Dwyer Secures Top Lot on Day 4 Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale
Promising Wootton Bassett two-year-old SKIATHOS topped the fourth day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at 150,000 guineas with robust trade resulting in a clearance rate of 90% for the session. Turnover for the sale exceeded 33,000,000 guineas for only the fourth time in its history with a fifth and final session still to come on Friday, followed immediately by the Tattersalls Aut
First Foal of Melody Belle a Winner!
Two time NZ Horse of the Year and a 14-time G1 winner, Melody Belle was a big ticket purchase for Yulong at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when  they paid $2.6million for the daughter of Commands and she produced her first winner for them at Cranbourne on Friday night.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Four heats for juveniles run at Warwick Farm on Friday and we saw winners by Trapeze Artist, Tassort, Exceed and Excel and first season sire Wild Ruler, while from a pedigree perspective a Godolphin filly that ran second was the obvious highlight.