Experienced seven-year-old Perfect Scenario (NZ) (Iffraaj) has accumulated plenty of travelling miles under his belt since making his raceday debut in December 2019 for owners, the Te Akau Perfection Syndicate.
In that time though he has built an imposing record that he added to on Saturday with a win in the Pryde’s Easifeed Open Handicap (1600m), the tenth in a 38-race career to date.
Allowed to start at the generous odds of $13.40 by punters, the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained son of Iffraaj made a steady beginning from an outside barrier (11) for apprentice Amber Riddell, who reduced his topweight of 62kgs down to a more manageable 58kgs with her 4kg claim.
Despite being posted wide throughout Riddell had her mount travelling like a winner as they hit the front with 400m left to run. Perfect Scenario fought like a tiger as he held off the challenges of Adannaya (NZ) (Niagara) and Matscot (NZ) (Haradasun) to claim victory for a beaming Riddell by a neat length on the line.
Co-trainer Sam Bergerson heaped plenty of praise on both horse and rider after the event.
“I said to Amber there are no real instructions just give him a good warm-up before the start as he is a straight-forward sort of horse,” Bergerson said.
“He has always been very good to the apprentices as he is just so genuine and a pleasure to have around the stable.
“He’s still pretty woolly so there is improvement to come and I must say it was a fantastic ride by Amber as she kept him balanced the whole way.
“He is such a gentleman and you’d like a whole lot more like him around the stable.”
Riddell, who is the daughter of well-known Central Districts rider Jonathan Riddell, is one of six apprentice jockeys to win aboard Perfect Scenario who boasts consecutive victories in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m) amongst his ten career victories.
“I wasn’t in an ideal position as I didn’t have any cover but he was just travelling so well,” Riddell said.
“It is such a privilege to ride a really good horse like him and I’m so thankful to Te Akau for giving me the ride.
“I thought at the 400m I had them covered and he just flew home.
“Christchurch is my family home as my Mum is from here and my Nana is here today so it is really special.”
Perfect Scenario has now won over $394,000 for his ownership group after being purchased by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis for $165,000 from the Woburn Farm draft during the 2019 Book 1 Sale at Karaka. – Trackside.co.nz
