The Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie-trained Aloft (NZ) (Atlante) showed plenty of her potential when winning on debut at Arawa Park on Wednesday.
The three-year-old daughter of Atlante settled to the rear of the field for jockey Danielle Johnson after jumping away from her outside barrier in the eight horse field.
Johnson improved Aloft four-wide at the top of the straight and timed her run to perfection to grab Call Me Evie (NZ) (Battle Paint) on the line to win the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1250m) by a nose.
“Talking with the team beforehand, I was always going to ride her back and I have had a good drag into it,” Johnson said.
“She has run pretty well considering she did a bit wrong.”
The half-sister to dual Group Three winner Eleanora and dual Group Two winner Supera surprised her connections with the winning result.
“We know she has got a lot of ability, she was just here for a day out and a bit of experience,” Ritchie said.
“She has done all of this on her first prep, so it is pleasantly surprising.”
Ritchie and Ramsay were pleased with Aloft’s two trials in the lead-up to Wednesday, which gave them the confidence to press on to race day with the filly.
“Her trials have been very good and we do have a lot of time for her,” Ritchie said. “We were really happy with her trials and thought we would roll the dice and give her a run.
“She is definitely going to be a better horse in the autumn, but I am really rapt with what she has done today.”
