Cambridge Stud proprietors Brendan and Jo Lindsay dominated proceedings at Ellerslie on Saturday with three individual winners before signing off their red-letter day with a Group Three victory for a member of their broodmare band at Trentham.
The day began with striking two-year-old
Bavella franking her smart bloodlines with a bold win on debut. The Snitzel
filly had looked sharp in her two trials prior to raceday and so it proved as she
streaked clear in the run home for rider Leith Innes after sitting outside the
early speed in the 880m contest.
Out of the Lindsay's Group Three winning Zabeel mare Zonza, Bavella had been expected to produce a forward showing based on her lead-in work for trainer Lance Noble.
"She's been pretty professional all the way through and shown us plenty of ability," Noble said.
"We took her to Te Awamutu (trials) last week to get her used to going right-handed and I think that benefitted her today.
"The barrier draw was a big part of this as well as Ellerslie can be a bit of a tricky track.
"There is a nice race at Pukekohe next month which might be a stepping stone from this but she will tell us, as two-year-olds can be a day-to-day proposition when they are growing."
Noble and Innes struck quickly again with Save The Date two races later before Prince Jabeel rounded out the day by scoring in the last event of the day.
The win by Prince Jabeel represented the second winner in as many days for the Lindsay's proven black-type broodmare J'Adane, whose three-year-old Savabeel son Fratello broke his maiden status at Pukekohe on Friday.
Brendan Lindsay was on track to witness each success and was delighted with how the day had unfolded.
"It was a big day alright," he said.
"We thought we had some very good chances leading in but in this game, you never take anything for granted.
"I did have some confidence in the two-year-old filly but after her stablemate beat her at the Te Awamutu trials I did start to have a few doubts creep in.
"In the end Leith said she did everything right and she had a fair bit left in the tank at the finish which is very exciting.
"It was also nice to see Save The Date get another win as she has been served by Tavistock so this will be her last campaign if all goes to plan.
"Prince Jabeel has been a little frustrating along the way but he's starting to put things together now he has matured, so we do hope there is more in store for him as well."
Lindsay was quick to admit he also got quite a buzz from the win of Dark Princess in the Gr.3 Gee & Hickton Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham. The progressive five-year-old was bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan from Montjeu mare Game Duchess who is a member of the Cambridge Stud broodmare band.
"I watched the race on television at Ellerslie and I was probably cheering as much as her owners," Lindsay said.
"Game Duchess is a lovely mare who we have a Power filly from and is about to produce a Burgundy foal.
"She is booked to go to Almanzor this season so that win was a real boost for her."
While events on the track certainly made it a day to remember for Lindsay there was also another special occasion at Ellerslie with the opening of the new stabling complex, a project that he has been heavily involved in.
The new facility received glowing reports from users and spectators alike and had Lindsay feeling justifiably proud.
"The Club's former CEO, Cameron George, asked me to get involved about six years ago," Lindsay said.
"Along with Tim Gillespie, Russell Warwick and others we went and had a look at a number of the better operations in Australia before working with the architects to try and get things developed with the best features from what we saw over there.
"One of the big things was to enhance the focus on the old totalisator that forms a big part of the character of the whole complex. It is such a significant part of racing's history here in New Zealand as it was the first of its kind in the world.
"The Club is to be commended for the final product as it is a world class facility and to hear so many people speaking so highly of their experience yesterday, I think it means it will stand the test of time and provide the Industry with something to really be proud of." – NZ Racing Desk
