Elegant Jazz made a strong opening to her three-year-old campaign at Arawa Park on Wednesday, breaking her maiden with a promising performance in the Novara Park 1230.
The Russian Revolution filly had nine starts as a juvenile, with two of her best efforts coming in the hands of Sam Spratt, who was engaged for the ride at the midweek meeting. Starting among the outside hopes at $21.40, Elegant Jazz made good use of her low barrier early, but was soon crossed by several runners, landing her in the second-half of the field in the running.
Saving plenty of ground turning for home, Spratt guided Elegant Jazz into the centre of the track on straightening and set out after She’s All That, showing a tidy turn-of-foot late to storm over the top by a half-length. Debutant runner Protheatrics and Clear Conscience made a strong account of themselves to fill the first four.
Elegant Jazz was prepared at Tuhikaramea by Team Rogerson, who were represented on-course by Michelle Northcott.
“It was a great ride from Sam, she was supposed to be a bit handier than that but it all worked out well for her,” she said.
“She’s always shown a bit, she’s just not always had the best luck.”
Spratt shared a similar opinion and was pleased to see the filly delivering on her early promise.
“She was good, she was knocking on the door as a two-year-old and I had a couple of placings on her,” she said.
“They were hoping to get to the Karaka Millions and didn’t quite get there, but with a bit of time in the paddock, she’s come back really well.
“There was quite a bit of speed, I thought I was going to be thereabouts but with that speed, I ended up settling three-back. She was nice.”
The first foal out of a High Chaparral mare Made The News, Elegant Jazz was bred by Gerry Harvey, who remained in the ownership group after she was purchased by Rogerson Bloodstock for $110,000 at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
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