Mitre Peak (More Than Ready) made it two wins from her last three starts on Riccarton’s Synthetic track on Friday when powering home late to capture the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap 3YO (1400m).
The three-year-old filly was the slowest away and settled at the rear of the field for apprentice jockey Niranjan Parmar. Parmar bided his time before setting his charge alight around the final turn and the daughter of More Than Ready needed the entire length of the straight to nab Motiontime (Showtime) on the line to win by a nose.
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were pleased with the win and made special mention post-race of Te Akau Racing’s Ashley Handley and Hunter Durrant, who run their Riccarton barn.
“She looked terrific in the coat and it was a really good run to win, so well done to Ashley and Hunter,” Walker said.
“They’re two highly accomplished horse people, totally dedicated and professional, and we’re very fortunate to have them on staff.
“They’ve helped manage the horses and staff for Sam and me in the South Island, and it’s all worked well to have that many wins from the stable there this season.”
Owned by Fortuna Mitre Peak Syndicate, Mitre Peak was purchased for $60,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis at the Inglis 2022 Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney.
“My heart went into my mouth when she was slowly away,” Fortuna Syndicate Manager Galvin said. “She seemed to travel well and on the corner I thought she was a chance to run in the money, but she really motored home down the straight.
“It ended up being a good watch because she showed a very good turn of foot, so it was very pleasing and she’s beaten a good field.”
Galvin believes the best is yet to come from the filly.
“We don’t think Mitre Peak is the full deal yet because she still has quite a bit of furnishing, physically, to go,” he said. “For her to win a couple of races, as she’s done this time in, is very satisfying.
“It was reported to us that her work had been good leading up to the race, we couldn’t fault her, but there were a couple more favoured in betting that appeared quite hard to beat.
“We were confident that she was going to run well, but not completely convinced that she was going to beat the others, But in the end, she did.
“We’ll see how she comes through it before making plans, but she will have to have a break at some stage.
“She’s been performing well on the synthetic track, but it would be good to see her race on the turf again, especially down there (Riccarton) on the roomier track.
“I think that in late summer and into the autumn she could really come into her own.”
