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.
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.
“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.
