Sassy first stakeswinner for Smart Missile
Te Akau Racing’s 2YO filly Sassy ‘N’ Smart has given her sire Smart Missile a fairytale start as his first runner & winner, and now first stakeswinner with a dominant victory in Saturday’s $50,000 CJC Welcome S. 1000m LR.
An impressive debut winner three weeks ago at Riccarton, Sassy ‘N’ Smart jumped more promptly today for jockey Matt Cameron, sat just off the pace and put the result beyond doubt with a decisive turn of foot. She won by 2.75 lengths from What Choux Want and Dontpokethetiger (by Beneteau) in 57.41.
Watch Sassy ‘N’ Smart’s CJC Welcome S. LR win.
Sassy ‘N’ Smart was part of a splendid day for the new training partnership of Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, who turned out four winners on Riccarton’s marquee day, including Risque, successful in the NZ 1000 Guineas G1 for The Oaks Stud.
Sassy ‘N’ Smart was bred by Matt & Jo Cloros with Arrowfield and purchased for $150,000 by Te Akau Racing from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2015 Inglis Easter Sale.
She is the second foal of the US-bred mare Panorama Ridge (by Empire Maker), a daughter of French Oaks G1 winner Nebraska Tornado. Panorama Ridge also has a 3YO son King’s Choice (by Redoute’s Choice) in the Hawkes stable, a yearling colt by Redoute’s Choice, a colt foal by Snitzel and is once again in foal to Snitzel.
Sassy ‘N’ Smart’s stakes victory sealed a good week for Smart Missile, also represented by a pair of strong trial winners last Tuesday, the colt Jericho at Rosehill for Triple Crown Syndications, and the filly Strike For Victory at Hobart for Prime Thoroughbreds.
Smart Missile has 37 yearlings on offer at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, ten of them in the Arrowfield draft.