Blue Sky At Night has defied double-digit odds to win both of New Zealand’s biggest 2400m handicaps this season, adding Saturday’s Group 3 Avondale Cup at Ellerslie to her victory in the Group 3 Waikato Cup in December.
The Shamexpress mare landed a $13 upset with her Te Rapa triumph three starts ago, but subsequent unplaced finishes in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) and Group 3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) saw those odds balloon to $34.70 with horse racing betting sites on Saturday.
But under a well-judged ride from Tayla Mitchell, Blue Sky At Night settled into a smooth rhythm in eighth place and in the slipstream of the $3 favourite with Neds, About Time.
Despite the race being run at a stop-start pace, both of those mares warmed into their work stylishly coming up to the home turn and began to gain ground on the leaders.
About Time pounced at the 300m mark and looked the winner, but then Mitchell brought Blue Sky At Night home with big bounds down the outside. She charged up alongside About Time, and when that rival lifted again, Blue Sky At Night found that little bit more and edged ahead to win by a neck.
2025 Group 2 Avondale Cup Replay – Blue Sky At Night
“It’s great to win another big Cup with this beautiful mare,” trainer Shelley Hale said. “I was a bit surprised that she was at such big odds. I suppose her last two runs weren’t that flash on paper, but she’d been hitting the line well in both of those races. When she gets the right run, 2400m is really her sweet spot.
“She was so bright and well coming into this race. She’s a fabulous mare and I just love her.”
About Time and the Australian raider Tajanis remain the $4 equal favourites for the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day on March 8, but Blue Sky At Night has moved into third favouritism at $8.
“I’m pretty hopeful that she can run a strong two miles,” Hale said. “She gives us the impression that she will. The progeny of Shamexpress are quite remarkable, they can win over 1200m to 2400m, and now we’re going to try to win one over 3200m!”
Blue Sky At Night has formed a special bond with Mitchell, who has now won five times from 12 rides on the mare including the Waikato and Avondale Cups.
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