Rangiotu mare Girl Talk was rewarded for her consistency when securing black-type at Wanganui on Easter Monday when winning the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2040m).
The four-year-old daughter of Zed has come a long way in a short time, winning her maiden back in October before adding a further three wins to her tally, including at Wanganui last month over a mile.
Trainer and part-owner Stephen Nickalls was confident heading into Monday and he was duly rewarded with a brave win.
From her ace barrier, Girl Talk drifted back to settle last for jockey Samantha Collett, who bided her time at the back of the pack before asking her charge to improve three-wide with 900m to go.
Girl Talk made a long and sustained run and had to draw on all her talent down the home straight to reel in Psyclone to win by a head.
“I am over the moon, it was a massive effort” Nickalls said.
“I said to Sam just to get a little bit neutral, if you kick her out of the gates she can sometimes over race a little bit. Everything went whoosh, but Sam said she didn’t panic, she settled and was happy.
“There was decent pace, so they were rolling on a little bit, but Sam made all the right moves, she got out and got rolling and how tough was she in that last 100m?”
Nickalls has had a lot of time for Girl Talk and said she has just taken a bit of time to mature, but she has hit her straps this season, going from a maiden to a Group Three winner in the span of six months.
“It is just phenomenal, she has given us a lot of thrills along the way and she has certainly come a very long way in a short space of time,” Nickalls said. “She came into work as a maiden horse and is going out a Group Three winner, it is pretty special.”
While rapt with Collett’s ride, Nickalls was quick to pay tribute to Girl Talk’s regular rider Kate Hercock, who had ridden her in all 14 of her previous starts, but had to sit on the sidelines on Monday through suspension.
“Kate has done everything on her from her first start, she was the only one that had ridden her on raceday,” Nickalls said. “I feel for her for not being able to ride her today, she has been amazing and so good with her.
“She spoke with Sam and I before the race just to give us as much advice as she could. She has been pretty special to us.”
Nickalls has no set plans with Girl Talk and said he will wait to see how she comes through the race before making any decisions.
“She has been up for a long time but we have got no plans, we will get home, look after her and enjoy today,” he said.
Nickalls is enjoying his best season to date, having now won seven races, two of those at stakes level, and earned more than $311,000 in prizemoney.
“We have got five or six racehorses that are very competitive and when they are like that you can get good results,” he said. “Chase winning the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m) and her winning this, it is one to remember.”
Bred by Grangewilliam Stud, Girl Talk is out of five-win Al Akbar mare Gossiping, and is a half-sister to five-win mare Bold Belle and three-win gelding View of the World.
Girl Talk has now won five of her 15 starts and has earned more than $180,000 in prizemoney. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
