If he was tuned in from his American holiday base on Saturday morning, trainer Stephen Marsh would have been delighted with the result of the third race from Te Rapa.
Race favourite Windspeed (NZ) (Tavistock) headed home a stable quinella in the Property Brokers Taumarunui-sponsored 1400m contest, with barn mate Bugatti (NZ) (Charm Spirit) charging into second ahead of Musigny Lass (NZ) (Iffraaj) who just shaded the third Marsh runner, Superette (NZ) (Vadamos), for third.
It was a gritty effort from Windspeed as the daughter of Tavistock made all the pace on the Heavy10 Te Rapa surface for rider Michael McNab and despite not being totally comfortable in the going. Still put a winning break on her rivals in the run home to win by a neat length at the line.
Stable foreman Rhys Mildon was pleased to add another victory to the stable record for the season, especially with the boss away at present.
“It would have a dream result if we could have snared the trifecta, it was very close, but to win with our first North Island runner while the boss is away, is still very special,” Mildon said.
“She is just very tough and Michael did say she wasn’t really handling the track and lost a bit of concentration in the last 100m, but she really knuckled down and got the win.
“They were flat chasing her on the turn which is a good sign and although she probably only just got the 1400m on the heavy track, it was probably more like a mile.”
Although the filly, who was a $25,000 purchase out of the Cambridge Stud draft during Book 1 at the 2020 National Yearling Sale at Karaka, hadn’t raced since a similar victory over 1200m on a similar surface at the venue earlier this month, Mildon was confident of a good run.
“Stephen likes to look after her as she is not a big filly and she likes her races spaced a little,” he said.
“She was turning into a real little madam this week as she was feeling so good in herself, so we thought she was spot on and ready to go.
“She is strengthening nicely and although I’m not sure what the final plans are for at this stage, the first two days of the Hastings Spring Carnival will have options for her as they tend to be raced on tracks with some give in them and that will suit her.”
Windspeed is a daughter of Zabeel mare Tuesdays Child (NZ) and comes from an extended family that includes Group One winners Umatilla, Hurricane Sky and outstanding racetrack performer and subsequent champion stallion, Redoute’s Choice.
