It was a fitting win in the inaugural Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m), formerly known as the Royal Stakes, at Pukekohe on Monday, with the Cambridge Stud-bred and owned About Time (American Pharoah) taking out the fillies feature named after the farm’s founder.
Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay were trackside to welcome back their filly, and trainer Lance Noble said it was a sentimental win for the couple, who purchased Cambridge Stud off the legendary horseman.
“He (Brendan) mentioned it beforehand of how fantastic it would be if he could win this race named after Sir Patrick, and he will get a huge thrill out of that,” Noble said.
Slowest away, About Time settled towards the rear of the field for jockey Warren Kennedy, who gave his charge an economical trip throughout.
The pair were the last to turn for home, but Kennedy was able to navigate his charge through an inside passage and found the lead with 200m to go. The Stephen Autridge-trained pair of Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Livid Sky (NZ) (Proisir) were descending on her late, but About Time was able to hold out Still Bangon to win by three-quarters of a length, with a head back to Livid Sky in third.
It was the fourth win for the day from four rides for Kennedy, who was returning to ride from suspension, and Noble said he was glad to be a part of his purple patch of form.
“The way he is riding I think he must have counted up what the percentages he missed out on Boxing Day and it made him a bit hungrier,” Noble quipped.
About Time was backing up after a sixth placed run behind Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High) in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day and Kennedy was confident of a bold run after studying the race from the sidelines.
“I thought her last run was pretty good, it was against the best three-year-old fillies around. She just looked like she hit a flat spot when they quickened up and she never really recovered from that,” Kennedy said.
“The only thing was the quick back-up. but Lance has done a fantastic job, he has kept her really happy.
“I thought 2000m would be right up her alley, I would switch her off and ride the last half of the race, which mapped out perfectly. She shot through very nicely, she hit a bit of a flat spot once she got through, but she had enough guns on her to power on to the line.”
Noble said being based at Karaka was a huge advantage in helping About Time recover from her Boxing Day outing.
“In this day in age not many back-up, but we are only 20 minutes away, so she recovered quickly and we were happy with her. We didn’t do a lot with her and she paraded really well today,” he said.
The Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) looms as a major target, although Noble said they may now give her a break and focus on a Queensland Winter Carnival campaign.
“I was thinking about giving her a bit of a break and maybe looking at Brisbane, that is a possibility,” Noble said. “We will get home and see, I am sure Brendan will have some ideas.”
