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2017 Ashford Lodge Stakes Listed November 25 - Pukekohe Park

3 minute read

Melt wins 2017 Ashford Lodge Stakes Listed NZ$50,000 at Pukekohe Park (NZ), 1100m.

Melt winning the Ashford Lodge Stakes
Melt winning the Ashford Lodge Stakes Picture: Trish Dunell

Melt made a big impression with an easy win here, putting the race away with 150m to run. She began quickly (barrier 4) but was soon outpaced to drop back to fifth when they settled.

Rider Michael McNab held the rails into the home straight but into the straight a nice gap appeared on their outer so he moved out, moved forward to challenge, cruised up alongside the leaders at the 200m then surged clear to win easily by more than three lengths.

There was a good line up for the minors with Bit Lippy running on doggedly the length of the straight to just grab second on the line, a half head in front of Flaunt It Girl, who was handy enough into the straight but lost interest only to fight back late for a good third.

A nose back in fourth was Pinot Grey who led at the 200m and fought on but was cut down late.


ANZ Bloodstock News

Pukekohe

Saturday, 25th November 2017

3
13:55
(local)

Ashford Lodge Stakes (LR)

Age: 2yo Type: OPEN
NZD $50,000
1100m TURF DEAD
3
13:55
(local)
NZD $50,000
1100m DEAD

Ashford Lodge Stakes (LR)

Age: 2yo Type: OPEN

This Listed 2yo over 1100m was run on a track where the bias was very heavily swayed to backrunners and closers all day on way too longish looking grass. In the nine races only one leader won, the opening race in a crawl run 2400m where the winner took the front 1000m out due to the farcical speed prior. Sitting wide was not a total disadvantage either albeit cover was required and the inside lanes the run home were very dubious to say the least so some over-watering had clearly taken place in the lead up. The winner of this juvenile event was a debutante filly called Melt and she won like a rising star with dominant size plus power to match and demolished them at the line to score by three and a quarter lengths in 1:04.31. Her dam won eight races with two coming at Listed level and was and out and out speedster but her daughter Melt is a big gal and can really unleash and lengthen out an impressive stride. The time compared to the Listed Open Handicap run later in the day of 1:03.92 is very comparable indeed and so Melt on debut was just two and a half lengths inferior plus it should be again noted she bolted in. The race was ruined early when a runner came over way too abruptly and carved up and checked several rotten, which did change the race but certainly not the winner from saluting. She was fifth on settling and once drawn out into clear air at the 400m her rider asked the filly to go and she surged up to lead at the 200m then powered right away. Bit Lippy ran second a short head ahead of Flaunt It Girl and both these were not away cleanly at all. In fact Bit Lippy was third last away and then hampered after 200m by some of the fallback carnage ahead but settled down sixth in a gap. He ran home gamely and while looking sure to finish fifth kept coming and got second on the line. Flaunt It Girl was tardy and second last away but missed the fallback carnage ahead and improved quickly to settle fourth the outer. She looked likely to finish fourth but also kept coming and got third on the line. This race had two clear favourites and an expected match race but as history shows they rarely ever happen that way and once again that was true. Pinot Girl had bolted in at debut and the filly started second favourite behind an expensive debutante with a big reputation in Autumn Wild. The latter soon sped to the lead and the former went up second the outer after 300m and then sat close until taking the lead the run home. Pinot Girl got windburn by Melt going past her but looked sure to finish second only to be swamped on the post and finish fourth. Autumn Wild was disappointing and punctured the run home to finish fifth beaten over four lengths so back to the drawing board and maybe some gear additions next time out. Lite My Cigar was okay on debut for sixth as he got checked badly after 150m. Kailani Sunset, the troublemaker, sped over early then took the trail but left carnage galore behind and the rider it should be noted got 10 National riding days suspension. The rear trio home were beaten a dozen lengths up to over twenty-three lengths and two of them were checked or crowded badly early and the other tardy and last away. The winner Melt could be special judging by the clear cut manner of the win and the time but until seen in a race where numbers are not pole-axed you cannot be sure. Two massive reputation bubbles were burst big time today and that just adds to the intrigue as clearly neither ran up to their spruik but could either have lived with Melt anyway the closing 200m?



FP Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 9. MELT (NZ) 2yo F
IFFRAAJ (GB) - TICKLISH (NZ)
MICHAEL MCNAB
N W TILEY
$8
54.5kg
Andrew Fowler
2nd 2. BIT LIPPY (NZ) 2yo G
SHOWCASING (GB) - CERAMIC (NZ)
ANNA JONES
VANESSA HILLIS
$27
56.5kg
D E Evans
3rd 5. FLAUNT IT GIRL (AUS) 2yo F
SIDEREUS (AUS) - LINGERIE MODEL (AUS)
SAMANTHA COLLETT
JASON PRICE
$22.3
54.5kg
B R Pemberton, J A & Mrs K A Price

Sales Information

4th 4. PINOT GREY (NZ) 2yo F
BURGUNDY (NZ) - STREAMING (NZ)
CAMERON LAMMAS
STEPHEN AUTRIDGE
$2.8
54.5kg

Sales Information

5th 7. AUTUMN WILD (AUS) 2yo F
SNITZEL (AUS) - REGIMENTAL GAL (AUS)
JAKE BAYLISS
LANCE O'SULLIVAN & ANDREW SCOTT
$2.4
54.5kg

Sales Information

6th 3. STRIKING BRAHMA (NZ) 2yo C
DARCI BRAHMA (NZ) - SMOULDER (NZ)
DANIELLE JOHNSON
BRENDON HAWTIN
$18.4
56.5kg

Sales Information

7th 8. KAILANI SUNSET (NZ) 2yo F
SWISS ACE (AUS) - KAHALA (NZ)
SAM SPRATT
RICHARD YUILL
$13.9
54.5kg

Sales Information

8th 1. OUR BEESKEES (NZ) 2yo G
NOM DU JEU (NZ) - KIRRA (AUS)
MARK HILLS
GRAEME SANDERS
$29.6
56.5kg
9th 11. FLYING (NZ) 2yo F
THE FACTOR (USA) - LOTUS BLOSSOM (AUS)
MARK DU PLESSIS
Moira & Kieran Murdoch
$42.6
54.5kg

Sales Information

10th 6. FROSTED (NZ) 2yo F
ALBRECHT (AUS) - MISS ANATINA (AUS)
MATTHEW CAMERON
K ZIMMERMAN
$26.3
54.5kg

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