Betty back on top at Ashburton

[Wandering Eyes]

Emerging talent Betty Spaghetti (Stratum Star) made a deserved return to the winner’s circle at Ashburton on Sunday, powering away with a competitive Rugby, Racing and Fun (1400m).

A mare by Stratum Star, Betty Spaghetti was a classy three-year-old, finishing runner-up in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m), alongside fourth placings in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) and Listed NZB Warstep Stakes (2000m).

She went on to collect a trio of victories at four, and after a couple of fitness-building runs to kick off her new prep this season, she looked to be near her devastating best when narrowly missing behind The Good Shepherd at Wingatui.

A gallant fourth-placed effort in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1400m) was enough to place her on top of the market for Sunday’s open handicap, closing at $3.70 over Third Decree ($4.60) and Tumuch ($5). Jumping away positively, Betty Spaghetti settled into a comfortable rhythm midfield under Billy Jacobson, while Fellini went up to lead and controlled a moderate tempo.

Tumuch loomed up to Fellini on the corner while Betty Spaghetti had all rivals ahead of her, but winding up down the outside, she let go with a booming finish to power over the top and score by just shy of two lengths.

Anna Furlong, who trains the mare at Riccarton Park, had every faith she could produce a performance of this calibre.

“It is very special, it’s great to get the job done for the owners and she’s been racing in top company, and performing so well,” she said. “It was nice that she could show us that she’s fit and well and still wants to be out there doing her best.

“She takes a little bit of time to wind up these days, but she really showed her class at the line.

“Billy rode her pretty much to plan, we wanted to be in behind the speed and he wasn’t stressed when they came around her, he just let her bide her time. He is going to be a huge asset to the South, he’s already been very well-received and he’s a great addition to the riding ranks here.”

A journey back to Wingatui for next Saturday’s Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) is not on the radar for Betty Spaghetti, with Furlong looking ahead to the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m) on her home track on March 22.

“Off that run, we would be leaning towards the Breeders’ Stakes, which is at a mile,” she said. “That (distance) wouldn’t be a problem.  

“We thought the White Robe wouldn’t quite be the right fit for her, at weight-for-age in what I think will be a really strong field. We thought it would be nice to potentially get a win with her today for the owners and that’s what we opted to do.”

Bred in Canterbury by Beaufort Downs, Betty Spaghetti was purchased for just $20,000 at the 2021 National Yearling Sales by Robert Dennis. The Southland horseman syndicated her out to a large group of owners, of whom she has earned $187,160 for with five wins and six minor placings in 19 starts.

Her dam, Swiss Beauty, won two races over 1200m, and as a broodmare has also produced Mogul, a two-race winner.

Earlier on the Ashburton card, Furlong was delighted with the effort of Those Ocean Eyes, a promising three-year-old filly who backed up her debut victory last-start with a narrow second to Eastandwest in the Rainer Irrigation (1200m).

“She didn’t love the heavy but she tries very hard, Sam (Wynne, jockey) was rapt with her run as were we,” she said.

“She was the most inexperienced horse in the field and she’ll take huge improvement again from that, we will now look to get her back on top of the ground and over 1400m next start.”

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