Running repairs helped Waikouaiti mare Zedaam live up to her bloodlines by winning at Ascot Park yesterday.
The 5yr-old followed up a second placing at Oamaru last month and a close fourth at Wingatui on Melbourne Cup day by achieving her maiden win over 1600m.
Zedaam had built her good form for dual-code trainer Amber Hoffman after undergoing transformational knee surgery.
"Since she has had her knees operated on she has been a different horse," Hoffman said.
"Peter Gillespie did the operation and he took out three bone chips."
Hoffman races the mare on lease from Matamata breeder Lorna Moore.
Zedaam is from a half-sister to Moore's star group-1 performer Lizzie L'Amour. Zedaam is by Zed, a son of Lizzie L'Amour's sire, Zabeel.
It was clear the 5yr-old was going to take time to show her best, which is why Hoffman was able to race the mare.
"Lorna had her with a trainer in the North Island, but it was obvious she was going to take time and that she was not going to be suited to a stable up there.
"I leased her and if it hadn't been for the operation she would probably been in the broodmare paddock now."
It is not just been physical problems that have tested Hoffman's patience. The highly strung mare has benefited from plenty of one-on-one time with stable track-rider Madeline Seuseu-Musgrave.
Riverton trainers Kelvin and Aimee Tyler and jockey Kozzie Asano s
combined for a winning treble with Our Boy Richie (race 1), Feel The Rush (race 2) and Tobilicious (race 9).
