Stakes performer Sugah Sweet showed she is back to her best when comfortably taking care of a handy line-up in the Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (1400m) at Taupo on Monday.
Trainer Bryce Newman and jockey Masa Hashizume were seeking redemption at the South Waikato track after Sugah Sweet tailed the field home at the venue at her last raceday outing in October, where she took on the uncustomary role of pacemaker.
Hashizume, who currently leads the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership, took the polar opposite approach this time, easing his charge to sit at the rear of the compact field where they stalked Group Two performer Solidify throughout.
Sugah Sweet came off the back of Solidify at the top of the straight and made her move down the outside. She showed a good turn of foot to reel in her opposition and continue her momentum to run out a 2-1/4 length victor over Solidify, and Hashizume was rapt he was able to make amends for his last start error.
“Last time I didn’t get much instruction and I led, which was a mistake,” he said. “Bryce told me to do whatever (today) but don’t lead. I just followed Ryan (Elliot, on Solidify) and she was travelling so good. I didn’t want to go too early on the corner, and she sprinted well.”
Newman was delighted to see his mare back in the winner’s stall, with the daughter of Zacinto last tasting success 13 months ago.
“She is back, and I thought it would just be a pass mark today, but Masa rode her well today. She has never led before in her life, so it was a bit of a shock here last time,” Newman said.
“It is lovely to have her back and it was worth the trip up (from Bulls). It will be nice to go home, we have got three hours of planning of what we are going to do next with her.
“She will definitely improve a little bit from that. We will make the choice of whether we go to a mile or whether she has got another 1400m in her. We won’t rush.”
A homebred, Sugah Sweet has now won five of her 23 starts for Newman, and placed in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) earlier this year after posting fourth placings in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m).
Newman said it was a timely win, with her half-brother set to go through the sale ring at Karaka next month as part of Beckham Equine’s New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Sale draft as Lot 829.
“We bred her, we have still got mum (She’s Thoreal), and we have got a nice Noverre colt (lot 829) that is a half to her going through the sale,” Newman said. “It is exciting.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
