Bryce Newman was in familiar territory when he picked up a double at Wanganui on Monday, but a new challenge is now on the horizon for the Bulls trainer as he prepares Abbakiss for Saturday’s $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).
An exciting week for Newman commenced as he’d hoped, with Uncle Arch and Blue Jeanie breaking maiden status in their respective contests.
Uncle Arch (NZ) (Tivaci) was equal favourite for the Terry Brothers MDN (1600m), a contest that was swiftly turned on its head when pacemaker Deciphering Me dislodged jockey Marc Lerner at 1200m. That left the son of Tivaci in front under Kavish Chowdhoory, who had him travelling well into the straight and he kicked away to score by a length.
“There was obviously an incident in the race, but he did well to carry on while he was left on his own for a while there,” Newman said.
“He’s a progressive type of horse, we see him as a stayer probably into next season. It was good to see him get one out of the way and I think there’s a bit left in store for him this preparation.”
His stablemate Blue Jeanie (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) was rated a $21 chance in the Smart Naturals 2040, but she second-rated her rivals after getting the perfect run in transit in the hands of Chowdhoory. Settling in midfield, the Satono Aladdin mare saved plenty of ground on the inside turning for home and powered away, the final margin nearly four lengths.
“That was super pleasing,” he said. “She hasn’t had many starts and the first couple weren’t overly inspiring, but we’ve had this family for a long time and she’s about the fourth generation, so we know they take a bit of time.
“Although it was very nice to see her do it, I think the second place a couple of weeks ago put the writing on the wall that she was finding her form and doing what the family does.
“Both of these horses are homebred, which is always quite nice as well.”
Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
While Newman has had a multitude of success with his homebred gallopers, it will be a filly he purchased at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in Abbakiss (Microphone) who will take on the million-dollar feature at Ellerslie later this week.
The daughter of Microphone was purchased by Newman’s Raumai Bloodstock for $60,000 out of Carlaw Park’s draft, and in her four raceday starts as a juvenile, she has recorded a win and three placings.
After her maiden success at Tauherenikau last November, Newman had started to consider a tilt at the Karaka Millions, a hope that became reality when Abbakiss went down by a short head in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) earlier this month, won by To Cap It All.
“It’s always in the back of your mind, it’s pretty exciting to get to a race like that, but we’ve said all the way through that it wasn’t the be all and end all, she’s a lovely filly that we think will train on,” he said.
“After the run at Wellington, where she got caught three-wide no cover and had the tenacity to go down by such a short margin, it gave us the confidence that we should have a go in Auckland.
“It’s what you always hope to do, we race a lot of homebreds and only buy one or two a year, but as soon as Michelle and I saw this filly at the sales, we fell in love with her straight away. Our son Jack is big into pedigrees and he gave her the big tick in saying she’ll go pretty early, so it was nice that she fitted into our budget and we could afford a filly of her quality.
“She’s moved up north this week, she’s happily settled in Cambridge at Chad Ormsby’s place. We’re just happy to be at Karaka and to have a horse good enough to represent us in a race like that.”
A former top-level eventer in New Zealand and overseas, Newman knows a thing or two about high-pressure sport, but he said the two environments were difficult to compare.
“It’s totally different,” he said. “I found a little bit at the start (of training) that handing a horse over to someone else was the most difficult thing, because I always felt I rode well under pressure when I rode myself, even though these guys are professionals and do it day in, day out.
“In a former life, I would’ve loved to be a jockey myself, and I still ride a lot of horses at home every day.
“I find that you put a bit of pressure on yourself through expectation and I think I’d be less nervous if I was riding myself, but we’re just going to go up and enjoy it, what will be will be. The syndicate are really looking forward to Saturday night.”
