Well-performed staying mare Par Tee (NZ) (Verdi) collected her second victory in the space of six days at Gore on Wednesday, powering home to win the Kevin Coyle Memorial (2000m).
The daughter of Verdi had started a warm favourite in the Rating 75 2200m contest last Friday at Wingatui, where she was far too strong for her rivals, drawing away by three lengths under Ruvanesh Muniandy.
Stepping into open company, Leda Beck, who trains the mare out of Winton, opted to remain with an apprentice in Donovan Cooper, decreasing her impost to a featherlight 51kg. Par Tee was in favour with punters starting the $2.10 favourite ahead of Riviera Rebel ($3.40), with the latter leading proceedings throughout while the mare bided her time in midfield.
Riviera Rebel shook off the challenge of Midnight Runner turning for home while Par Tee searched for clear running, but when it came, she stormed down the outside and caught the pacemaker just short of the line, the final margin a half-length.
“It’s a great achievement from her,” Cooper said.
“She’s really cruisy, she’s quite a pony to ride but when you ask her the question, she’s very gusty and she’s not afraid of anything.
“I was just waiting for the opportunity to get the run and when it came, I took it. She finished it off very well.”
Beck was equally pleased with the effort, indicating the new $50,000 Southern Cup bonus races over February and March are now firmly on her radar.
“This is the first time she’s ever backed up, so we were very happy that she could,” she said.
“We’re just trying to make the most of the tracks at this stage.
“She’s always been consistent and probably has gotten a bit stronger this season, but she’s only a wee thing and doesn’t want to carry too much weight. Today was probably perfect just carrying 51kg.
“We may give her another run, but I’d like to give her a wee break and then look at some of the staying races later on. We have some nice bonuses down here.”
The six-year-old is now just shy of $100,000 in earnings from her 32 starts, where she has recorded five wins and a further 13 minor placings. She comes from a family well-known to the Becks, having bred her out of their three-win mare Matoaka.
“We’ve always had this breed, we had Bernie (granddam) initially who produced Matoaka and a couple of others, including Gargamel who won the Grand National Hurdles,” Beck said.
“Matoaka is back in foal to Ghibellines at the moment.
“It’s a possibility that we may breed from her (Par Tee) as well, we’ve still got her mother and another couple of fillies, but if she won another race, we’d definitely have to think about it.”
