The new season of racing in the winterless north at Ruakaka kicked off in fitting style, with a dead-heat in the opening event between promising three-year-old’s Chicago Jack (All Too Hard) and I’m All In (NZ) (Zoustar).
I’m All In, trained by Stephen Marsh at Cambridge, was the favourite for The Homestead Bar & Bistro (1100m) after producing a win and two placings from his four career starts, while the Steven Cole-trained Chicago Jack started a $5.50 third-favourite after gaining a placing in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) to close his two-year-old season back in April.
The compact field were in tight quarters early in the sprint event, with debutants Midnight Edition and Horrie eventually leading the charge into the home turn. In the trailing position, Chicago Jack was briefly held-up at the top of the straight before apprentice Triston Moodley reverted back to the inside rail, while I’m All In was set alight by Sam Spratt down the outside.
The pair drew level at the 100m and neither would lie down, fighting hard all the way to the post, with the judge unable to split them in a photo finish.
Cole, who prepares the son of All Too Hard out of Byerley Park, was pleased to see him performing up to the promise shown in his juvenile preparation.
“We have always thought a lot of him, we started him in a stakes race first-up where things went astray on a wet track, but last-start where he was third at Ellerslie was a good run,” he said.
“Anything up to that standard here, you would think he would’ve been pretty hard to beat.
“He got in a nice spot and just got a bit niggly on the corner, but he got back to the fence and kicked well so it was a good effort.
“We gave him some time to mature and he seems to have come back a better horse, he’s switched on now so there should be nice things this season for him.”
Marsh was also pleased with the performance of I’m All In, who he trains for the Zoustar gelding’s breeders, Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay.
“I thought he was really good, he was a bit slow away and Sam said it was a bit of a rough race with a couple of inexperienced horses, so he never really got a chance to get into his rhythm and relax,” Marsh said.
“They’ve had a fair bit of rain overnight and blustery conditions, and he’s probably better on a good track as his last win did come on the synthetic surface.
“It will tidy him up well for two weeks’ time.”
The race Marsh is referring to is the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders Stakes (1200m), which will be run at Ruakaka on August 17.
“The extra 100 metres should suit him well, so hopefully they don’t get a storm and the track improves,” he said.
