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A devastating home straight burst that has become the trademark of local runner Te Hana was put to good use again as the five-year-old mare delivered a first-up victory at New Plymouth on Saturday.
The Janelle Millar prepared galloper had been ear-marked as a likely stakes contender this summer after a string of good runs during her last campaign where she won four of her 7 starts. Returning to the track in Saturday’s rating 85 1200 metre contest; the daughter of Falkirk indicated she was ready to compete at the elite level as she downed a field of handy performers in comprehensive fashion.
“I knew she had the talent to win but I didn’t think she could as she is really only about seventy percent ready at the moment,” noted Millar.“She had a good winter break after a big season and has come back a stronger version of herself but I thought there may have been one or two who were more seasoned that would be a little tough for her.
“As it turned out the race played into her favour as she likes to get back and then storm home and with the speed on all the way it was perfect for her.”Millar isn’t looking too far ahead with her charge but admits she has bigger plans for her in the future.
“We will take it one race at a time with her next target being the Taranaki Breeders Stakes at Hawera in a fortnight,” she said.“After that we will assess where she is at but I think she has the ability to foot it at a higher level this summer. The way she relaxes also indicates she will get further than a mile so we may look at a middle distance at some stage during this campaign.”
Saturday’s event was a further edition of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association administered Pearl Series Incentive scheme that is sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance.Introduced in 2013 to benefit owners, trainers and breeders of thoroughbred fillies racing in New Zealand, the scheme provides bonuses of almost $2.6 million and prizemoney of nearly $2.8 million across 215 individual races over three seasons’ racing for fillies and mares nominated as yearlings.
Saturday’s bonus went begging however with the unregistered Te Hana denying Second Time Lucky the $20,000 prize with her victory.