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Roger James received a glowing report on Riccarton-bound Full Of Spirit after yesterday’s Te Aroha trials.
With James being in Melbourne with Silent Achiever and Zonza, Full Of Spirit was saddled up to win an open 1200-metre trial by stable foreman Leanne Bertling, who passed on the good news to her boss.
Ridden by Matthew Cameron, Full Of Spirit won the heat by two and a half lengths from Red Dragon to confirm her readiness for the Gr. 2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile at Riccarton next Wednesday.
“She sat comfortably in the trail and Matt gave her fresh air in the straight and she won it nicely,” said Bertling.
“It was a lovely trial and a good hit-out for her. She’s all set for Christchurch.”
Full Of Spirit’s only trip to Riccarton was two years ago when she went south for the Group 1 NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas, in which she finished seventh to Planet Rock. She has come a long way since that third start, having added more than $264,000 in prize-money to her tally and five doses of black-type.
Later as a three-year-old, she won the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes and was fourth in the Group 1 ATC Oaks, both in Sydney, and has since been three times runner-up in black-type events, including the Group 1 Makfi Challenge Stakes fresh-up this campaign.
A second to Innovation in the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup last start sealed the trip south for Full Of Spirit, who will again be ridden by Cameron in the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile.
The other James runner at Riccarton will be Miss Foxwood, who is on track for the Gr. 1 $300,000 NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas on the last day, November 16.
A daughter of the Gr. 1 2000 Guineas winner Foxwood, Miss Foxwood picked up her first black-type when third behind Bounding in last Monday’s Gr. 3 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes at Te Rapa.
James McDonald was aboard the filly for the first time and will return from Australia to ride her in the 1000 Guineas.
“James was very pleased with the way she went,” said Bertling. “She is still learning and the 1600 will suit her better. She’s come though the race well.”
Meanwhile, Bertling is happy to report all is well in Melbourne with Silent Achiever and Zonza with the latter scheduled to start on Saturday in the Myer Classic at Flemington.
