Photo: Trish Dunell
Debutant Enraptured (Preferment x Grey Swallow) picked up a valuable bonus at Matamata on Wednesday when posting a debut win.
The two-year-old filly, bred by Milan Park’s Tony Rider, scored in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1050m) impressing trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray.
“We will probably have one more go now based on the fact that her win was soft because of the barrier (2),” Ritchie said.
“She was three back the fence, angled out and didn’t have to do a lot of work in the running. I would expect she will pull up pretty well from this.”
Bloodstock agent Adrian Clark purchased Enraptured for $6,000 out of Milan Park’s Gavelhouse Plus Weanling Sale last year and Ritchie said Clark has developed a knack for identifying equine athletes at the lower end of the market.
“He is becoming a marvel at identifying horses that aren’t overly popular, paying next to nothing for them and getting incredible success on the racetrack,” Ritchie said.
Ritchie has been impressed with Enraptured from early on and he is excited about her prospects in the spring as a three-year-old.
“We gave her a prep in the spring and knew we had to back off her a little bit,” he said. “She is a beautiful filly that is still maturing.
“She is still growing and still has little muscular issues, but that will sort itself out when she turns three. That will be even more exciting for the syndicate as a spring three-year-old.”
Ritchie has set his sights towards the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November with his filly.
“We will likely set her for a race like that and if we can win that, that would be terrific,” Richie said.
“We are going to have a lot of fun in the spring and as a three-year-old.”
Enraptured is the sixth winner for her sire, four-time Group One winner Preferment, who stands at Brighthill Farm in Waikato.
The son of Zabeel has already left stakes performer Tap Dancer, who placed in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m).
It is the third NZB Insurance Pearl Series bonus struck this month after Splash of Red (Reliable Man x Penny Bright) and Clever Ruds (El Roca x Madam Kirk) were successful at Pukekohe on March 12.
Exciting changes made to the NZB Insurance Pearl Series will be announced next month, anyone wanting further information or to enter their 2020 born fillies can call the NZTBA office on 07 827-7727.
