Stud Glad To Gain Black Type Credit

A patient approach with Glad was rewarded with black type at Trentham this afternoon and the prospect of further honours next weekend. Carrying the colours of Waikato Stud, the Pins mare passed her sternest test to date when successful in the Listed Anniversary Handicap and a performance that also cut her Gr.1 Thorndon Mile quote from $31 to $10.

“She’s only lightly-raced and as a three-year-old she was slightly frail and didn’t have much luck in in two stakes races last term,” Matamata trainer Jason Bridgman said. “She was three wide in both the Manawatu Classic and the Sunline Vase so I told Matt (Cameron) that whatever you do don’t get caught three wide.”

Glad, who had finished third and fourth respectively in those stakes events, jumped to an ideal position just off the speed and forged to the front in the straight. The mare was up for the fight when favourite Sangster challenged and prevailed by a neck with Estrato a brave third. Out of a winning Rory’s Jester mare from the family of the great Black Caviar, Glad has now won four of her 10 starts and today’s success added significantly to her future broodmare value for the Chittick family.

The stud had further reason to celebrate in the following event when the O’Reilly mare O’Fille came from well back in the field under a typical Noel Harris ride to land the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes. It was just reward for the Wayne Marshment-trained mare who had been luckless last preparation placed in both the Gr.2 Travis Stakes and the Listed Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes. She carried 53kg today and will drop a kilo in the Gr.2 Wellington Cup, in which she is now quoted as an $8 chance. “She’s a top horse and will keep me going for another year,” Harris said.