Pondarosa Miss Prevails in Easter Thriller
Description:
Four horses were seemingly locked together at the finish of the Manco Easter Handicap (gr. I) April 18 at Ellerslie, but Pondarosa Miss got her head in front after storming strongly down the outside.
The race was the final group I of the 2014-15 season in New Zealand and marked the first stakes win for Pondarosa Miss and first in a group I stakes for jockey Daniel Hain.
The Easter Handicap also was the first time the filly and rider had teamed since Aug. 30 at Hastings, when Pondarosa Miss suffered life-threatening injuries in fall that sidelined Hain for quite a while. Hain had ridden the 4-year-old High Chaparral filly in all three of her previous wins up to that point, but when reunited with her on Saturday Pondarosa Miss snapped a seven-race winless skid.
Pondarosa Miss edged Vespa to triumph, while Kawi was a nose back in third after a tardy start, and Allez Eagle, who lead before the half-mile mark, were third and fourth, respectively.
Pondarosa Miss finished 1,600 meters (about one mile) was 1:38.50 on a slow track.
Third in the two-mile Auckland Cup (NZ-I) March 4 at Ellerslie, Pondarosa Miss was fifth when cut back to a mile in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (NZ-I) April 4, both with Noel Harris, who had been aboard in each race following her return from injury.
"She's an amazing horse and we've had a few ups and downs together," Hain said. "She handles all conditions, on top of the ground and through the wet.
"To win a group I is every jockey's dream, it's a big moment for me to finally get one."
Trainer Peter Hollinshead co-bred Pondarosa Miss and co-owns her in partnership. She was produced Danske mare Bak Da Princess and has five wins from 16 career starts.