SASSY MERLOT STEPS UP WITH TOUGH WIN

Make that two for Ballymore Stables on premier day at Te Rapa, after Sassy Merlot (3 f Burgundy – Saveadance, by Savabeel) won $40,000 Brokerweb Risk Services Rating 65 1400 metres on Saturday.

Earlier on the programme, Tevere (Contributer) recorded her third victory from five course attempts, while Sassy Merlot became the third three-year-old filly to win during the week for Ballymore, following Myrtle Creek (Ocean Park) on Wednesday at Rotorua, and Let’s Say Grace (Charm Spirit) on Friday at Tauranga – both on debut.

For Sassy Merlot, who quickened appreciably to win Maiden 1200 metres in October at Matamata, before unsuited on rain-affected heavy footing in 3YO 1400 metres in November at Tauranga, the victory was her second from four starts for owners M & W Bloomfield, D C & P M Dean, J P Gray, A & J Hayne, D Lean, M N McConnell, A H Panther, Savvy Racing Swamp Fox Syndicate (Mgr. Keith McDonald), and Ballymore Stables.

Taking positive approach from awkward gate (10), jockey Matthew Cameron pressed to lead, travelled sweetly, finding a terrific kick when tackled over the concluding stages and drew out late to win with authority.

“She had to work a little bit to get over (lead) and I knew Hillis’ horse (Isla Jay, second) was the one to beat, and she toughed it out really well,” Cameron said.

“She’s lovely. She’s got an attitude and she had to do it hard from start to finish, and she’s stepped up from her last win.”

On Good3 footing, upgraded prior to the race, Sassy Merlot ran 1400 metres in polished 1:22.1, last 600m 35.1, and shortened from earlier fixed odds quote ($26.00 & $5.50) to pay $16.50 & $4.50 on NZ TAB tote.

“She’s a very tough filly, always has been, although I walked away from Tauranga with a question mark, but it was wet,” said co-trainer Pam Gerard.

“If she gets to the front and can dictate she just keeps running and if they come at her she goes again.

“It was a good field and I didn’t know if she could do that, but at least we know where we can go from here.”

All going well, Sassy Merlot could be given her chance in $120,000 Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie.

“It depends how she comes through it,” Gerard said. “I thought she’d lightened up a touch after Tauranga, but the extra week has been the making of her.

“A winning run like that could take a bit out of her and she may not be ready by Christmas, but we’ll see.

“I’m proud of all my team and they’re working so hard. Mikey (Thompson) and Scotty (Magee) and the boys and girls at home, they spend hours doing the extras and that’s what it comes down to.

“It’s good for them and all the owners to get the wins and great to get a roll on before Christmas.”

From family noted for producing horses with turn of foot (acceleration), including Singalong (Danasinga), Coup Ray (Exploding Prospect), and Penny Arcade (Straussbrook), Sassy Merlot was selected by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and purchased for $24,000 at the Karaka 2020 Book 3 Sale, on account of Advantageous Ventures.

“Actually, it was my partner Catheryne Bruggeman that found her at Karaka, and I merely agreed that she was a cracking filly,” Moroney said.

Her sire Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), a three-quarter brother to multiple champion stallion Darci Brahma (Danehill), was a fast horse that won five stakes races to 1600 metres. He sired New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Dijon Bleu and was Leading Second Season Sire.

From a young mare by six-time Champion Sire and emerging broodmare sire Savabeel (Zabeel), dam, Saveadance, had already left a winner over 1100 metres, plus dual winner to 1600 metres, and notably the filly carries a Zabeel (Sir Tristram) cross, as the dam-sire of Burgundy and sire of the dam sire.

Sassy Merlot is from family that Ballymore knows well and at the time of purchase drew accurate comment from Moroney: “There are a lot of similarities to Zabeel about her. She is a good moving filly, athletic, that looks to have spring classics potential as a three-year-old.”

Sassy Merlot was strapped by Hera Singh.