Progressive juvenile Best Rose turned the tables on her key rival at Riccarton Park on Wednesday, scoring an impressive second-up victory in The Tea House At Riccarton Park 2YO (1000m).
A filly by Maurice, Best Rose had made two trial appearances for Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stable before venturing south to their Riccarton base where she debuted for second behind Zelia.
The pair were set to go head-to-head again at the midweek meeting and despite the last-start defeat, Best Rose closed an odds-on favourite at $1.60, with Zelia at $2.90 and debutant Shesascorcher at $8.20. With a number of inexperienced runners in the field, the race was delayed significantly with the eventual late scratching of Miss Starlight, while Best Rose also took her time to join the line.
In the hands of Michael McNab, the filly finally settled and flew the barriers, crossing to find the rail from her outside draw. Zelia remained off the fence throughout and once they straightened, Best Rose was off and gone, pinning her ears back to put a three-length margin on Zelia, with Shesascorcher a further 2-3/4 lengths back in third.
McNab collected a pair of Group victories aboard Te Akau’s juveniles last Saturday at Matamata, and heading south, he was complimentary of Best Rose’s effort.
“She jumped well, cleared them and worked along at a nice gallop, then picked up off that,” he said. “She did a really good job.
“To be honest, going through the form and replays yesterday, there were a lot that were very green. If the favourite (Zelia) went, I’d go sit with them, but I jumped and was able to muster quicker, so I was happy to find the rail.
“She won well today and she can only go ahead with it.”
Sam Bergerson, who trains the filly in partnership with Mark Walker, was on course and was rapt with the performance, albeit with a few anxious moments pre-race.
“Apart from loading in the barrier, she was very straightforward,” Bergerson said. “It’s good when the two-year-olds can find the rail and follow the rail home.
“She quickened nicely and seemed to relax lovely for Michael, it was a good positive ride.
“There were a few nervous moments, they late scratched one and then she was in and out a bit. She was pretty stubborn and that’s probably the only time she’s put a foot wrong to be honest.
“She’s got that good aggressive racing style and seems to love being a racehorse. Onwards and upwards with her.”
Te Akau scooped the pool in the South Island’s two-year-old stakes races last season and they hope to do so again in a couple of months’ time, with the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) and Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m) on her radar.
“I think at this stage, she seems happy down here,” Bergerson said. “Hunter (Durrant, assistant trainer) and the team are doing a fantastic job with her and those two Listed races in April look ideal.
“There is a bit of time between now and then, so we’ll get her home and see how she pulls up, but they look like two nice initial targets.”
Bred by Gene Tsoi’s Standard 2080 Ltd, Best Rose is out of a Snitzel mare Queen’s Legacy, a half-sister to Group One winning-mare King’s Rose, carrying the same purple and pink silks King’s Rose did when she won the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) for Te Akau back in 2010.
By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
