SWEET SUCCESS FOR PETRACHOR AT TAUPO

Making it two from two with another tough effort, Petrachor (4 m Redwood – Mother, by Red Ransom) won the $10,000 Waikato Stud Rating 65 1300 metres on 21 August at Taupo.

In training for Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey, Petrachor had won on debut a month earlier with a gritty performance from a wide draw over 1200 metres at Hastings, and although stepping up in grade her prospects were enhanced having won a trial by nearly four lengths in June at Taupo.

“She won on debut from a wide draw and such a tough little filly,” said co-trainer Pam Gerard. “There’s not much to her and she’s probably got under the guard the whole way through, given she’s so little, but she’s got a big heart and she tries hard.”

Copping barrier 12 for the second time, and again with Cameron Lammas in the saddle, Petrachor was dealt no favours in the run, being caught three wide near the pace, but after challenging around the home turn she quickened to an advantage at the 200m and never looked like yielding what ended up a long head buffer at the line.

“She was stuck three wide punching the breeze and geez she’s tough,” Lammas said. “She kept giving and giving, and the more I asked her, the more she gave me. Her first win was a tough win and showed today that she’s still got it and keeps giving.”

At her first start, Petrachor was a drifter in betting to return $5.50 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote and given the sternness of opposition she was let go to return $10.20 & $3.60 on this occasion. Delivering for the second time on slow footing, she clocked 1:20.9 for the 1300 metres and last 600m in 36.7.

“It certainly made it harder stepping up in grade at just her second start, but she had won a trial here before racing and trained on very well since her win at Hastings,” Gerard added.

By Westbury Stud stallion Redwood (High Chaparral), from an unraced mare, Petrachor is a half-sister to winners Niobe (Niello) and Big Mama (Red Giant). And although no monster, she has good strength to her and presented looking terrific in the coat.