Hotfoot It NZ spacing the field at Northam. Photo by Photography by Jodie Hallows
At just his third start back after a freshen up, Hotfoot It NZ it returned to the winners’ circle in impressive fashion for trainer Jason Woodworth and driver Chris Voak. After racing in metropolitan company last week in the BOTRA Cup at Gloucester Park, the son of American Ideal USA appreciated the step back in class, winning with ease in 1:58:1 over the 2190m journey at Northam.
With the four-year-old gelding back in the mobile starts after two weeks in the stands, Hotfoot It NZ began well from barrier four, with the $1.60 favourite working his way to the lead early and kicking away to win comfortably by 14m in the sixth on the card.
“I don’t track work my horses anymore, so I trialled him a few times for fitness. I didn’t push him in the trials, I qualified him in the stand, so his first two starts back were both standing starts, but because he is still new to them, he bubbled the start in them both which I think cost him.” Woodworth said.
Woodworth is expecting much more from the lightly raced four-year-old who has now recorded his seventh career victory from 34 starts and his third win since joining Woodworth’s stable in mid-2020.
“I felt that we had burnt him out early last prep with a few hard runs in town as we were trying to sneak into the Golden Nugget, so thought a break would really benefit him,”
“I expected him to win pretty easy, he did it with his ear plugs still intact and I think the best is yet to come. He definitely has major ability and expect him to keep on improving; he takes a few runs to get going,”
“I was pretty lucky to get him. I had put up an advert online and Kristy Elson contacted me about him, and I can’t thank them enough. They are honest owners/trainers to buy from so there was no hesitation in buying him.” He said.
Hotfoot It NZ and Chris Voak winning with ease. Photo Credit- Photography by Jodie Hallows
Michael Young and Shannon Suvaljko joined forces for a winning double on the card, with The Tiger Army and Miss Serenade NZ saluting for the duo.
Miss Serenade NZ recorded her second win at just her second start since joining Young’s stables recently. The smart filly made her way over from New Zealand in May after just the two starts and her connections will be looking to continue her unbeaten record in WA. After working her way to the front after 400m from release point, that’s where she stayed, winning by 3.2m in a mile rate of 2:00:8 over the 2190m.
The Tiger Army recorded his first win since relocating from NSW late last year for his connections, Eddie Burchill. Having just his fourth start in WA, the win brought up his ninth career victory in just 31 starts, with a winning mile rate of 1:59:9. Starting off the 10m handicap in the standing start, Shannon had the gelding settled in the one-out-one-back position, peeling off with 500m to go, he hit the lead at the top of the straight, going on to win by 3.7m in race seven.
Young currently has 12 horses in work but is expanding the team with a few more on their way over as well as four youngsters currently out getting educated but expects a real showing from his new horse Doc Holliday.
It was just a small field for the first on the card, but Hoppys Way NZ took out the two-year-old race for trainer Mike Reed and driver Mark Reed. Recording his first victory narrowly in the five-horse field, the colt by Art Major clocked his win in 2:08:9.
Sagatious took out the second on the card for trainer/driver Madeleine Young, recording his fourth career victory and his first win in almost 16 months. The $1.90 favourite was restrained early to settle at the rear, going from last to first to win by 3.3m in 2:00:4.
Make It Quick brought up his third win for Craig Hynem since entering his stables just seven starts ago. Driven by Shannon Suvaljko, the three-year-old ran down the leader to win by a head in 2:01:2 over the 2620m.
Father and son duo Kevin and Hayden Charles took out the fourth with Mary Joe taking out the fillies and mares race in 2:00:1. After settling towards the rear, Charles times her run perfectly, pulling out with 500m to go to win by 1.6m.
Goodealehmaddie NZ has been knocking on the door for a few weeks and on Saturday night she broke through to claim her maiden win for trainer/driver Michael Blakemore. The three-year-old New Zealand bred filly went on to win stylishly by 26.4m in 2:01:6.
Shannon Suvaljko walked away with four driving wins on the night, rounding out the program with the win on the Craig Abercromby trained Follow My Stride. The three-year-old filly brought up her second win, her first win for Abercromby, in a mile rate of 1:59:9, winning by 13.9m in the last.
