Rangiora trainer Bridget Woodsford is hoping for a fairytale result in Saturday’s Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton with her bargain buy Pizarro.
The six-year-old gelding was purchased by her partner Akshay Balloo’s uncle, Sanjay Balloo, off gavelhouse.com in August last year as a one-win horse for just $1,700. While Balloo hoped Pizarro would provide his group of friends with some fun, he has far exceeded expectations and now presents them with a chance of stakes glory this weekend.
The son of Swiss Ace has posted three wins and two runner-up results from six starts for Woodsford, and after he went for a spell in April, a plan was hatched to get him to the Pegasus Stakes.
“He is owned by Akshay’s uncle and a few of his friends. It’s a bit of a family affair, which is quite good,” Woodsford said.
“He went well last prep, he was a little superstar. He (Akshay, who has ridden him in all six starts) has done well with him.
“We had it (Pegasus Stakes) in the back of our minds once he went out on holiday that we would bring him back and aim for it, but we didn’t know if we were going to make it.”
Make it they did, and while Woodsford is full of nervous anticipation ahead of lining up her first stakes runner, she couldn’t be happier with his preparation, having won an 800m trial at Ashburton in September and runner-up behind race rival North England in a 1000m trial at Timaru last month.
“I am excited but nervous,” she said. “He has been working well and I am really happy with him. It is just a strong field, and I am not too sure about the 1000m, it might be too short for him.”
Pizarro has drawn barrier 10 on Saturday and will once again be ridden by Akshay Balloo.
He is currently a $21 sixth elect with the TAB, in a market dominated by Central Districts raider Platinum Attack at $2.70.
Depending on Saturday’s result and how Pizarro pulls up, Woodsford said he may back-up in the Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m) seven days later.
Woodsford will also be represented at Riccarton by Fast Impact, who takes a win and two runner-up results into Saturday’s Gold Club Premier (1600m).
“He is good and happy as in his work, maybe a bit too well,” she said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
