Five-year-old gelding Redwood Shadow (NZ) (Redwood) made it successive victories when he came from midfield to score in the NZB Jack Newton Legend Mile Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m), heading home a New Zealand bred trifecta in the final event on the Newcastle stand-alone meeting on Saturday.
Under jockey Jason Collett, Redwood Shadow raced closest to the fence to wear down Kedah (NZ) (Per Incanto), with Sindacato (NZ) (Per Incanto) running on well for third.
The son of Redwood has now had seven starts for Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride, after commencing his career with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, for whom he showed good early promise and even finished a close-up fourth in the Gr.3 Caulfield Classic (2000m).
“He has done it all on his first preparation for us and it has just taken us a while to get his confidence up. His first few runs he wasn’t quite finishing off on heavy tracks,” Pride said.
“His last two starts have both been on better ground and he has just kept improving.
“He will definitely be a better horse next preparation. They always are these tried horses. They are always better when you give them a break and they know the routine.
“I was really happy with that today, I thought he went really well.”
The win of Redwood Shadow completed a treble for jockey Jason Collett who rode Knife’s Edge (Warrior’s Reward) and Ten Bells (Nicconi) to win the opening two races on the card.
“It was a good way to end the day. I had a full book of rides and a couple of chances, but no favourites so it was nice to knock a few off,” Collett said.
“He has a high head carriage and is a touch awkward and probably lacks a little bit of confidence. He gets himself into positions where he doesn’t have a lot of speed early.
“He was snookered back on the fence with horses around him which is probably not the best for him but he was able to maneuver his way out of there today.”
By Westbury Stud stallion Redwood, who is represented by ten lots at this week’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, Redwood Shadow was bred by Darrell Hollinshead.
He is out of Prickley Princess (NZ), a Thorn Park half-sister to Group One winner Pondarosa Miss (NZ) (High Chaparral) and multiple stakes winner Ecuador (NZ) (High Chaparral).
