SASSY MERLOT GAINS VALUE STAKES VICTORY

Last start winner Sassy Merlot (5 m Burgundy – Saveadance, by Savabeel) beat a very good field assembled for the $80,000 Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Saturday at Riccarton.

Triple Group placed, including the Wellington Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) and Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) as a three-year-old, Sassy Merlot had raced keenly but fought well for fifth in the Open Handicap 1400 metres when having her first start on the course in March, before dropping in grade to win after establishing a sizeable lead in the Rating 75 1600 metres on 4 April at Ashburton.

Handily drawn (4), Sassy Merlot was keen to go faster in midfield before improving three wide with cover nearing the home turn, quickened to lead 250m out, and lengthened under the urgings of jockey Lisa Allpress to win well.

“She was standing like a statue in the gates, so plans went out the window of riding her forward,” Allpress said.

“I found some nice cover and a back to follow into the race, so it all worked out really well.

“The (winning) run last start was phenomenal, so I knew she had that residual fitness.

“She kicked really well and when I asked her she just shot out from underneath me – it was a good feeling.”

On Soft5 footing, Sassy Merlot ran 1400 metres in 1:22.6, last 600m in 34.2 (approx.), and held firm in betting to pay $10.60 & $3.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She’s been a tough competitor right through,” said Pam Gerard, who trains the mare with Mike Moroney.

“It’s a bit tougher up North, and you get the tracks not to suit, but she came down here, had one on one attention with Richie (Fallon) who has done an amazing job and got her back into form.

“I’m really pleased to have talked the owners into coming down. We had an earlier stakes race in mind (South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes), but she didn’t travel that well, so we gave her an easier task to get her confidence and then she won at Ashburton.

“When I saw her this morning, after getting off the plane, I thought she’d gone to another level.”

Recording her fifth win 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, Sassy Merlot was selected by Catheryne Bruggeman & Paul Moroney Bloodstock, who regarded her as a “cracking filly”, and purchased for $24,000 at the Karaka 2020 Book 3 Sale, on account of Advantageous Ventures.

By five-time stakes winner Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice), who unfortunately died after serving only four seasons, Sassy Merlot notched his 24th stakes win.

Sassy Merlot is from a family noted for producing horses with a turn of foot (acceleration), including Singalong (Danasinga), Coup Ray (Exploding Prospect), Penny Arcade (Straussbrook), Black Magic (Kaapstad), and Electrostatic (Elnadim).

Sassy Merlot was strapped by Richie Fallon.

Later on the programme, Harlech (7 g Darci Brahma – Obsession, by Bachelor Duke) capped a good day for Ballymore Stables when finishing close second in the $120,000 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr. 3, 2000m).

Harlech had shown to be racing in fine when sustaining a strong run for close third in the Hororata Gold Cup (Open Handicap, 1800m) on 23 March at Riccarton, and dropped in distance running fastest last 600m (34.4) for second in the Open Handicap 1300 metres on 4 April at Ashburton.

Ridden by Lisa Allpress, who won aboard stable-mate Sassy Merlot (Burgundy), Harlech received a nice run through from three back inner to challenge at the 350m and fought out a stern battle with leader and subsequent winner Green Luck (Street Cry).