In A Twinkling caught punters napping on Labour Day at Te Rapa winning with a defiant performance in the NZB Ready to Run Sale Nov. 21 – 22 Rating 82 (2100m).
Beaten a nostril in the G.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) before finishing fifth in both the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) Gr.1 ATC Derby (2400m) in Sydney, In A Twinkling was only a one-win horse but lumbered with 61-kilos.
“He was very well within himself and it’s always a thrill to see a slightly out of form horse come back into form with a win,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis. “He was third-up from a spell, Jamie (Richards) has done a terrific job with him, and for a horse that had only won once previously it was quite incredible where he was at the top of the handicaps."
In the hands of stable rider Opie Bosson the intent was clear as In A Twinkling went forward and settled beautifully outside the leader. Able to gain an advantage to the 300m, he really dug in when asked at the 200m and looked in no danger over the concluding stages.
“He jumped and put himself there and relaxed beautifully,” Bosson said. “He was too good in the end and carried a big weight. Sometimes he can do a few things wrong but he did everything one-hundred percent today. And the track was perfect.”
“He’s a fair horse when he’s right and when he’s got his mind on the job, but to be fair when he doesn’t get things his own way he can switch off,” Richards said. “I think that was evident (last start) at Hawera. He got a lovely run in the race, but when a horse came around him quickly at the 600m he said ‘I’ve had enough for today’.
“I said to Opie, be aggressive, put him in the race and he controlled the tempo from outside the leader with a big weight. I’m really proud of the horse and he’s turned his form around.”
Richards said there were no immediate plans for horse, but cup races were in the mix, and paid homage to Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker for a gear change.
“He’s sporting a new bit of gear that (recent winner) Al Haram wore as well and I’d like to give thanks to Mark Walker for the pointer of a Norton bit and rubber nose band. It seems to be effective on some of these tricky horses.”
In A Twinkling is owned by the Te Akau Fastnet Moment Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis) after being purchased by David Ellis for $250,000 out of 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling draft of Curraghmore Stud.
His dam, Moment in Time, was a dual Group Three winner, dead-heating in a VRC St Leger, and winning six times from 1400m to 2800 metres.
In Australia on Saturday Bridges to Babylon broke her maiden at Albury over 1500m.
The three-year-old filly was born on the farm for breeder Adrian Clark before being sold privately as a weanling. She was then raised at Curraghmore and travelled to Australia after being broken in and her early education was completed.
Bridges to Babylon continued a good run for Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir who is currently topping the leading three-year-old sires list in New Zealand. He has had five winners in Australia from ten runners this season.
Bridges to Babylon is owned by Peter Brikha and trained by Danny Williams and her win came at just her second trip to the races.
Also in Australia was the John Sargent-trained Aspect Ratio who lined up in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m). She paid the price for racing on speed and couldn't finish off her run coming in seventh and 3.7L off the winner Fascino.
Aspect Ratio has been turned out for a spell and will return with some good targets ahead of her.
