Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Trainer Pam Gerard took plenty of convincing to head south to Tauherenikau with Reputation (Iffraaj) on Thursday, but the long trip paid off with victory in the Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
Leading apprentice jockey Lily Sutherland was positive aboard Reputation from the jump, pushing forward to sit outside pacemaker Ruby Rocks. Sutherland began to apply pressure from the 600m, which told on Ruby Rocks, and Reputation quickly had the lead. She had a two-length advantage on her rivals at the turn, which widened with every bound, and she coasted to a comfortable 2-1/2 length victory over the fast-finishing Nigella Lane.
Adding another stakes victory to her record was the perfect gift for Sutherland, who was celebrating her 21st birthday, and she said everything went to script.
“We thought she was going to lead and just sit outside them,” she said. “There was a little bit more pressure than we thought, but once we got there, she relaxed and got a really nice run for a while. We got to the rail before the turn, and they just couldn’t get to her.”
Thursday’s victory continued a stellar week for owner-breeders Christopher and Susanna Grace, whose green and yellow silks were also carried to stakes success by promising filly Hinekaha in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth last Saturday, while fellow homebred Loch In Ora was third in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) a race later.
Christopher Grace was keen on the idea of Reputation heading south to Tauherenikau to try and secure black-type, and said it took some convincing for Matamata-based trainer Pam Gerard to agree to the trip.
“Twice I had to ring her and say ‘the racing is a wee bit easier down our way, bring the horse down please’,” Grace said. “And thank goodness that she did.”
Gerard admitted she was loathe to make the 14-hour round trip to Tauherenikau, but she was pleased she made the journey.
“The idea was always in our head but it’s a long way to come,” she said.
“When the noms came out and I saw the field, I thought of every excuse not to come, but I couldn’t, she is here and she has done it.”
While the travel was one concern for Gerard, she said a hard surface was another, but she was full of praise for track manager Matia Grace and the way the Tauherenikau track presented.
“The track can get quite hard here but hats off to the girl (Grace) that has been doing it,” Gerard said. “She has got the water on and that has made a big difference because this horse doesn’t really like it too firm.”
By Iffraaj, Reputation is out of Zabeel mare Tenacity, a half-sister to Gr.2 Wellington Cup (2400m) winner Graphic, and the dam of stakes performer Motivation.
Reputation has now won four of her 12 careers starts and earned nearly $150,000 in prizemoney.
