Talented sprinter I’m All In showed he was back to his best with a gritty performance to take out the final race on an action-packed day at Ellerslie on Saturday, the Horizon By SKYCITY (1200m).
Another runner sporting the colours of Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, the lightly raced four-year-old was having just his 17th start and the second in his current campaign after finishing an eye-catching third first up behind Archaic Smile at Trentham last month.
Trainer Stephen Marsh produced the favourite for the race in Ardrossan mare Ardalio ($3.90), however, I’m All In was well-supported closer to start time, closing a $6.50 second favourite in the hands of Warren Kennedy.
Kennedy had guided Jaarffi to Group One success in the Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m) earlier in the day and made it a double for Cambridge Stud with a well-judged ride that saw I’m All In fight back in the final stages to defeat December by a short neck after the runner-up had joined him for a titanic tussle at the 300m.
Marsh was sporting a wide smile as he praised his charge for the way he fought back to gain the victory.
“It feels good to win a race with those colours and I thought he was very good as he looked like he was going to run second, but he dug deep,” Marsh said.
“We’d like to come back here in a fortnight and run in the open sprint and I think he deserves to as he was really good today in a good field.
“I thought his last start was really good and he is racing a lot better as he is getting his barrier manners right and putting himself right there by jumping out well.”
Marsh was referring to the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) which will be one of seven black-type races held on Champions Day at Ellerslie on 7 March.
Kennedy was also delighted by how well his mount fought down the Ellerslie home straight.
“He is historically not the bravest soul but Marshy has done a wonderful job with him, especially at the barriers and so have the barrier staff,” he said.
“He has learnt to race and he seems to have got the picture and picked up really well in the run home.
“He kept fighting and when I put the stick on him at the 100m, he fought harder.”
By Zoustar, I’m All In is a son of the I Am Invincible mare Fuld’s Bet, a talented performer who won on four occasions, including the Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) as a two-year-old.
He has now won three of his 17 starts and over $128,000 in prizemoney. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
