Three hours before pin-up mare Legarto lined up as the centre of attention in Saturday’s Group 1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m), an up-and-comer carrying those same cream and brown colours earned his own share of the Ellerslie spotlight.
Adam I Am lived up to his -111.11 favouritism with horse racing bookies in style with a bold victory in the $90,000 Go Racing 1400. The Rating 85 contest was the toughest test yet for the four-year-old Almanzor gelding, who has now won four of his seven starts and placed in another two. Adam I Am has earned $134,720 in stakes for a syndicate that includes his co-breeders, Ancroft Stud’s Philip and Catherine Brown.
After showing a real X-factor with two dominant spring wins and a later victory in the Thames Cup (1600m), Adam I Am’s upward trajectory was briefly interrupted when he finished fourth as favourite in last month’s inaugural $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa.
But the exciting chestnut was right back at the peak of his powers on Saturday, settling in fourth behind a slow pace before stretching out stylishly down the Ellerslie straight. He surged past Uderzo and Financier, cruising to victory by a length under a hands-and-heels ride from Michael McNab.
“It’s a bit of a relief, really,” trainer and part-owner Glenn Old said. “We thought we managed to get a couple of little things ironed out since Te Rapa.
“He was put to the test today, they cantered in front, but Michael got him to relax and he did everything well.
“We’ll get him home now and see how he pulls up before we decide what we do next. We don’t have any plans set in place.
“We don’t really know what his ceiling is. I believe he’s going to make a good 2000m horse in time. Hopefully that’s where we might end up in the spring. He’s exciting.”
The win completed an early double on Saturday’s Ellerslie card for McNab, who also rode Pearl Of Alsace to victory in the Westbury Stud Royal Descent Stakes (1600m).
“Great start to the day,” he said. “I was happy with where we were in the run. If you’re in the first four and you think you’re on a good horse, you’re in a good spot.
“I rode him during the week and he really filled me with confidence with what I felt. He’s grown up a lot since I last rode him at Te Rapa.
“He’s going the right way, and I think he’ll get to Group One level for sure – maybe not in this prep, but in the spring.”
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