Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Blue Sky At Night (Shamexpress) has defied double-digit odds to win both of New Zealand’s biggest 2400m handicaps this season, adding Saturday’s Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup at Ellerslie to her victory in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup in December.
The Shamexpress mare landed a $13 upset with her Te Rapa triumph three starts ago, but subsequent unplaced finishes in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) and Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) saw those odds balloon to $34.70 on Saturday.
But under a well-judged ride from Tayla Mitchell, Blue Sky At Night settled into a smooth rhythm in eighth place and in the slipstream of the $3 favourite About Time.
Despite the race being run at a stop-start pace, both of those mares warmed into their work stylishly coming up to the home turn and began to gain ground on the leaders.
About Time pounced at the 300m mark and looked the winner, but then Mitchell brought Blue Sky At Night home with big bounds down the outside. She charged up alongside About Time, and when that rival lifted again, Blue Sky At Night found that little bit more and edged ahead to win by a neck.
“It’s great to win another big Cup with this beautiful mare,” trainer Shelley Hale said. “I was a bit surprised that she was at such big odds. I suppose her last two runs weren’t that flash on paper, but she’d been hitting the line well in both of those races. When she gets the right run, 2400m is really her sweet spot.
“She was so bright and well coming into this race. She’s a fabulous mare and I just love her.”
About Time and the Australian raider Tajanis remain the $4 equal favourites for the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day on March 8, but Blue Sky At Night has moved into third favouritism at $8.
“I’m pretty hopeful that she can run a strong two miles,” Hale said. “She gives us the impression that she will. The progeny of Shamexpress are quite remarkable, they can win over 1200m to 2400m, and now we’re going to try to win one over 3200m!”
Blue Sky At Night has formed a special bond with Mitchell, who has now won five times from 12 rides on the mare including the Waikato and Avondale Cups.
The Avondale Cup capped a rewarding day for the 21-year-old apprentice, who brought up the 100th win of her career aboard Please Sir in the Eagle Charters (2100m) earlier on the Ellerslie card.
“It’s been a special day,” Mitchell said. “This mare means a lot to all of us. I really appreciate the Bakers (owners Isabel and Alistaire Baker) for keeping me on. This mare has taught me a lot and given me so much more confidence. I love riding for Shelley Hale as well, she always has her horses so well.
“The race panned out really well for us today. She can sometimes be a little bit tardy out of the gates, but she jumped well this time. When she jumps well and can settle in midfield, she really does everything on her own. I always knew she was going to let down in the straight.”
The Barkers have had special satisfaction from Blue Sky At Night’s exploits this season. She comes from a family they have built up over three decades, with Blue Sky At Night’s close relatives including the Gr.2 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Soldier Blue and the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) placegetter Overkaast.
“This is just amazing and a bit unbelievable really,” Isabel Barker said on Saturday. “What a beauty she is.”
