Pride Of Aspen looked right at home when she scored a decisive victory in the Cavallo Farms and Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (2200m) at Otaki’s rescheduled meeting on Tuesday.
The daughter of Pride Of Dubai was previously trained at the Central Districts venue by Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard before relocating with the latter to Cambridge this season. She often brings out her best on her old home turf, winning on three prior occasions, and continued that strong form when runner-up to Benefactor a fortnight ago.
Wynyard elected to leave the mare in the care of Benner leading into Tuesday’s event where she started favourite narrowly over Boomtown Boy, who was coming off a second placing in the Raukawa Cup (2100m).
In a small field of five there was no speed early, so Amber Riddell took matters into her own hands aboard Pride Of Aspen, striding to the lead and dictating terms throughout.
After shaking off a challenge from Carpe Diem at the 600m, Pride Of Aspen was clear in the lead turning for home and safely held the threat of Boomtown Boy to score by 1-¾ lengths.
Wynyard was rapt with the result, having hoped to press on to The Callinan Family Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m), run for $100,000 at Te Rapa later this month.
“I thought Carpe Diem would go forward and we’d probably end up outside him, but when he decided to take a sit, Amber used her initiative, took the lead and rated her very well,” Wynyard said.
“She stayed down there with Johno after her last run, he knows this horse just as well, if not better than I do, so he’s done all of the work with her leading up to today.
“If she did win impressively today, the next target for her would probably be the Taumarunui Cup at Te Rapa. She definitely does off-tracks and appreciates the moisture, so as long as she pulls up well, we’ll bring her back up here and have a go at that.
“She’s a big girl with a strong mind, she’s always known what she wants to do and you can’t really tell her otherwise. But she’s beautiful to look at and is very tough, so she ticks a lot of boxes as a good racehorse.”
Pride Of Aspen was purchased out of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale by Graham Causer’s Aspen Bloodstock, a strong supporter of the stable.
“Graham Causer buys really lovely horses, a lot from Australia, and he’s really into pedigrees,” Wynyard said. “He’s hoping to have a nice broodmare band around him, which it looks like he’s going to have.
“We’ve had a great association with him with the likes of Colorado Silver, Hold The Press, and obviously this mare, so I’m very thankful for the opportunity.
“His daughter, Makenzie Causer, is a very good show jumping rider, so they love their horses and that’s what they do.”
Wynyard had watched Tuesday’s race from afar, having had Pride Of Aspen’s juvenile half-sister, Sweet Talkin Gal, trialling this morning in the Waikato.
“I had her half-sister trialling at Waipa today and she went very well, so it’s been a good day for the sisters,” she said. “She’s owned by a different person, it was just a fluke that we ended up with them both in the stable.
“She’s by Anders and is similar to Pride Of Aspen, a big, scopey filly with plenty of ability. I think she’s really one to watch going into her three-year-old year.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
