Ears Back Wins Listed Stakes at Wanganui

Media Release - Saturday May 31

A two-race North Island campaign has ended on a career-defining high for Ears Back and her Rangiora trainer John Blackadder, who scored their first black-type win in Saturday’s Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui.

Ears Back winning Saturday’s Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Bad luck has been a recurring theme throughout the career of the Jakkalberry mare, including a check in the straight when beaten by only 2.7 lengths in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton last November, along with a close fifth after a less-than-perfect run in the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1600m) at Trentham in her last start on May 17. But on Saturday she made her own luck and became a stakes winner.

Ridden by in-form jockey Mereana Hudson, Ears Back broke brilliantly from gate four and immediately took up a clear lead. Bradman pushed forward to join her and briefly moved ahead down the back straight, but Ears Back regained command before turning down the side of the track.

Hudson began to up the ante from the 700m mark, and Ears Back kicked off the home turn with two lengths up her sleeve.

The chasers gave their all to reel her back in through the final 300m, headed by defending champion Belardo Boy, but there would be no catching Ears Back. She kept going strongly all the way to the finish line, winning by a length and three-quarters from Belardo Boy. The third-placed Bradman finished another two lengths away.

Ears Back has now had 37 starts for eight wins, six placings and $285,660 in stakes.

Advertisement

“That’s my first black-type win and I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Blackadder, who also shares in the ownership of the six-year-old.

“It’s great for the horse, great for her owners and also great for Mereana Hudson, who gave her a perfect ride today. The plan came off. It’s so satisfying.

“She was quite unlucky in that first run up north at Trentham a few weeks ago. She struck a really wet patch at the turn and lost a couple of lengths, but she still ended up being beaten by less than a length and a half. So to get the stakes win today, in the second of our northern targets, is a really big thrill.”

Saturday’s weight-for-age feature was the 13th and final start of the season for Ears Back. That breakthrough campaign has produced two wins, three placings, more than $130,000 in stakes and valuable black type.

“There’s not many other suitable races coming up for her now and she’s had a pretty fair season,” Blackadder said. “She can come home now and go out for a nice winter spell. Then we’ll bring her back into work and get her ready for some spring racing in Canterbury. She’s done a very good job this season and is heading out on a high.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - AGC Training Stakes LR 1600m

Wanganui Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:37.39
1
Ears Back
- 6m Jakkalberry (IRE) x Makesmewonder (AUS) (Grass Wonder (USA))
Tnr: J C Blackadder Rdr: M K Hudson 57.00
2
1.8
Belardo Boy
- 6g Belardo (IRE) x L'amour (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: J K Riddell 59.00
NZB Karaka Book 2 $40,000
Seller: Haunui Farm
Buyer: Lisa Latta Racing
3
3.8
Bradman
- 7g Pins (AUS) x Baggy Green (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: R J Bergerson Rdr: B Queiroz 59.00
4
4.3
Chantilly Lace
- 4m U S Navy Flag (USA) x On The Move (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: C Dell 57.00
5
6.6
Chase
- 8g Zed (NZ) x Dantessa (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: S Nickalls Rdr: A K Riddell 59.00
6
6.9
Enrico
- 6g El Roca (AUS) x Voodoo (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Ms I Kelly Rdr: M Singh 59.00
7
8.3
Pride Of Aspen
- 6m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Flattery (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Hollie Wynyard Rdr: R T Elliot 57.00
8
8.4
Kopua
- 7g Shocking (AUS) x Kendall Marie (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: K T Myers Rdr: Toni Davies 59.00
9
9.1
Kelly Coe
- 7m Proisir (AUS) x Floridita (AUS) (Fasliyev (USA))
Tnr: L O'sullivan & A Scott Rdr: K Chowdhoory 57.00
10
10.7
Hacksaw Ridge
- 7g Power (GB) x Tintintinette (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: J J Rayner Rdr: L T Hemi 59.00
11
11
Our Jumala
- 6m Zed (NZ) x Baltis (NZ) (Al Akbar (AUS))
Tnr: Robbie Patterson Rdr: C J Grylls 57.00
More Reading...
Vale, G1 winning horseman Tony Dennis
A member of one of New Zealand racing’s most famous and successful families has died, with the recent passing of Tony (Anthony) Dennis, aged 86.
Winning Debut for Blueblood Frankel Filly
We usually associate the Mark Walker stable with the tangerine colours of Te Akau racing, but it was John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds colours in the frame for the astute Kiwi trainer trainer at Benalla on Tuesday carried by blueblood Frankel filly Chateau Eze.
First Foals for Lofty Strike
One of the most interesting young stallions that we saw on the recent Victorian stud tour was at Swettenham Stud and it has not taken long for the big baldy face of Lofty Strike to find it’s way on to one of his first foals.
One to Watch – Ballarat
An Ole Kirk filly from a famous female family started a short priced favourite at Ballarat on Monday and duly got the cash.
Five Lots Announced for Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale
Tattersalls Online, Europe’s leading online thoroughbred sales platform, will break new ground when offering for auction five lots who took part in the ITM Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Leopardstown Racecourse earlier this week. The sale which takes place on 3rd – 4th September can be viewed on the Tattersalls Online website www.tattersallsonline.com.
Tara Talks Racing - We Chat with the Breeder of Raging Force
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes was won last Saturday by exciting Cosmic Force gelding Raging Force, so this week we’re chatting to his breeder Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, who has a self-confessed ‘mare addiction’!
Sires With Winners - Monday September 1
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 2
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Spring Trial Watch – Caulfield
With a plethora of Group racing for colts and geldings last weekend and fillies to take centre stage Sydney on Saturday for the Group II ATC Furious Stakes it was interesting to see a Caulfield trial on Tuesday morning that featured six stakes-winning 3YO’s.
Zoustar 7YO Chasing G1 for Cambridge Stud
South Africa will tackle the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night and earlier in the day a horse named after one of their favourite sons will be vying for Group One glory down the road at Ellerslie Racecourse.