Richard McKenzie and Jordan Bassett got a great sense of satisfaction at Tauherenikau on Sunday after watching Prestissimo breakthrough for her maiden win at just the second time of asking.
McKenzie bred the daughter of Time Test out of his Iffraaj mare Affrettando, and the Hastings couple have been involved in every stage of her development, which culminated in victory in the Wright Cabins (1300m).
Under a shower of rain on Heavy 10 footing, Prestissimo was pushed forward early by apprentice jockey Jim Chung and eventually found the lead over Linara.
They opened up a five-length advantage over the rest of the pack at the 800m and maintained a two-length margin on her rivals when turning for home.
Chung navigated his charge to better footing in the middle of the track and Prestissimo showed tenacity in the concluding stages to hold out the locally-trained Don Pedro to win by half a head.
Prestissimo was luckless on debut at Otaki last month, and her trainers were quietly confident of a strong showing, however, the deteriorating track conditions did hold some concerns for the couple.
“We were in two minds with the way the weather changed over the day, but she seemed to handle it. It was excellent,” McKenzie said.
“In her first run she got held up in the straight and didn’t get out until the last 100m and the race was over. Lily (Sutherland, apprentice jockey), who had been riding her, said she jumped well and travelled well, and it was just a shame that she got boxed in.
“It is always an unknown quantity on raceday, but we thought she attributed herself well and we weren’t sure about a wet track, but we were happy with her work leading into it. She galloped well on the Wednesday, and Jordy got off her and said she felt really good and seemed to have come on from that first start. We were quietly confident, but the weather had us very much in two minds.”
While rapt to get the win as owner-trainers, McKenzie, who also bred the filly, said the result gave them great satisfaction given they had been involved in every step of the process of getting her to the races.
“You have them from a foal right through, watch them grow up and it’s nice to see you get them that far (races) let alone win,” McKenzie said.
“It gives you a bit of satisfaction when it is all under mine and Jordy’s tutelage.”
McKenzie, an equine veterinarian, has long held a passion for racing, which was kindled by his grandfather, and said it is great to share that passion with his partner Bassett, a former jockey.
“I got the bug off my grandfather who always used to have a few gallopers and trotters around,” McKenzie said.
“I am an equine veterinarian by trade, so it is horses, horses, horses. Most of our horses Jordy does all the hard work with. She does all the riding and preparing, and all the hard yards day-to-day.
“It is a hard job, but it is certainly satisfying when you have a day like yesterday.”
McKenzie has been breeding for the last couple of decades, but has enjoyed incorporating training into their routine in the last few years.
“I have been breeding for about 15 to 20 years,” he said.
“We only really got into the training side of things in the last five years or so, but Jordy has had a few injuries – she unfortunately fractured a femur last season. She is the mainstay to the training side of things, so it was a bit of a quieter year last year.
“We have only got five horses in work at the moment, but that is enough to keep anyone busy.”
McKenzie and Bassett are exciting about the prospects of Prestissimo and they are hoping she can return to the winner’s stall in the near future.
“She seems a nice filly going forward and she is very professional in what she does,” McKenzie said.
“She has still got a lot to learn, but she seems to be taking steps in the right direction at the moment.”
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