Under-rated mare Inflamed ran down race favourite Iron Hawk to win the listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes, before outsider Bauble ($27) defied a muddling form line to storm home out wide and capture the group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup.
Waikato-based jockey Courtney Barnes, who served her apprenticeship with the stable, made the trip south to partner Bauble in the feature race.
Barnes made use of a strong finishing burst from the 7yr-old son of former White Robe Lodge stallion Ghibellines to come from a clear last at the 600m and beat home town favourite Matscot, Loose Sally and Royal Valour.
The blanket finish had seven runners virtually in a line 50m from the winning post.
Shane Anderton was struggling to take it all in shortly after the race.
“It’s pretty amazing,” Anderton said.
“He was wide on the corner but travelling good. It took the whole length of the straight but he got there.
“It was a good, tough effort and he has really stepped up today. He has got better with time and we have had a lot of fun with him.”
Anderton also acknowledged the efforts of Barnes, who began her journey as a jockey with their team at Wingatui.
“She was apprenticed to us and went right through the system with us. It’s good to be able to get that one with her.”
Barnes was thrilled to pick up such a big win for her former mentors.
“It means a lot doing it for BJ and Shane, as that was where it all began,” she said.
“He [Bauble] was quite relaxed out of the gates and after 200m I thought maybe I should have given him a dig. He started building from the half mile and really found the line.”
Bred and raced by Brian Anderton and his late wife, Lorraine, Bauble is out of their Seasoned Star mare La Gem.
He has now won eight of his 35 starts and over $211,000 in prizemoney.
• It was a poignant win by Inflamed in the group 3 Great Easter Stakes as it came just hours after the death of her dam, Ortem Fire, at White Robe Lodge.
Inflamed had been in solid form heading into the Anzac Day meeting, winning twice at Riccarton last month, including the group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, before finishing seventh in the $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge a fortnight ago.
The 6yr-old daughter of former White Robe Lodge resident stallion Ghibellines, who died late last year, was backed into a $12.80 second favourite in a market dominated by the Lance Robinson-trained Iron Hawk ($1.80), who had won his previous two races leading into Saturday.
Inflamed jumped away well from her ace barrier, but there was plenty of speed outside her, and jockey Corey Campbell elected to quickly hand up to Graeme John, who set the pace throughout.
Iron Hawk sat outside the leader before he was asked the question by jockey Tina Comignaghi at the 300m mark and he responded immediately, opening up a growing lead on the pack.
Inflamed looked the only danger and she called on all her reserves in the final 50m to reel in her more fancied rival to win by half a neck.
“It was a very special win,” Campbell said.
“She has been such a great mare for the stable for all these years now, so it was nice to get another black-type win on her.
“She has just been an absolute marvel. Not many horses can win on bottomless Heavy10s up to a Good3. It has been a pleasure to be a part of her racing career.”
Saturday’s victory brought Inflamed’s tally to nine wins from 37 starts, including victories in the listed Stewards Stakes, South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes and Great Easter Stakes, with earnings north of $377,000.
Her late dam, Ortem Fire, was a half-sister to group 3 winner Inferno, the dam of group 1 winner Smokin’ Romans and stakes performer Flamin’ Romans.
Ortem Fire won five races herself, including the listed NZB Insurance Stakes, and she was runner-up in the listed Southland Guineas, NZB Airfreight Stakes and Warstep Stakes.
While Inflamed has been her top performer, she has also left two-win mare Ortem Legacy, and the Andertons have a yearling colt and weanling filly, both by resident stallion Ancient Spirit, to watch. — LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
