Gemma Flitz continues winning ways

[Wandering Eyes]

Synthetic specialist Gemma Flitz (NZ) (Telperion) continued her purple patch of form on Riccarton’s polytrack on Thursday when taking out the Stable Books and Ardex Supporting NZ Trainers Open (1200m).

It caps an outstanding preparation for the daughter of Telperion, who has won three and placed in three of her six starts this year, highlighted by her last-start victory in the $100,000 Polytrack Championship (1200m).

Gemma Flitz was sent out a $1.80 favourite to repeat that result on Thursday, but she didn’t have things all her own way.

While perfectly positioned in the one-one by apprentice jockey Amber Riddell, pacemaker Delphillius opened up several margins on the pack, and Riddell had to begin her chase from the 400m.

Gemma Flitz continued to eat into Delphillius’s lead, finally heading her in the final 100m, and she was able to hold out the fast-finishing Dimaggio to win by a neck.

“She’s a tough wee button,” trainer Ross Beckett said.

“I think she is going to get over a bit more ground. She is starting to settle and I don’t think 1400m or a mile will worry her next prep.”

Beckett has been rapt with his seven-year-old’s preparation, and said her connections are enjoying a great ride with the now six-win mare.

“She has done a great job and I have been very lucky with the owners, they have let me take my time with her since I have had her,” he said. “We have just brought her through quietly and now they are reaping the rewards.”

Gemma Flitz has recorded all but one of her career victories on the synthetic track, and Beckett said it is a godsend for some horses over winter.

“She wouldn’t be in work if it wasn’t for the polytrack,” he said. “She likes the tracks nice and firm, and that just shows that the poly has got its place.”

Gemma Flitz will now have a freshen-up but will stay at Beckett’s Yaldhurst property in preparation for some late spring targets.

“She will stay at the stables and go out in a grass paddock during the day and come in each night,” he said. “It is just too cold to turn them out after being in through the winter.

“She will do that over the next two or three weeks and then we will try and find a nice race for her over Cup Week.”

Stakes targets are now in the offing for Gemma Flitz, but Beckett has yet to identify any targets.

“We are going to have to start looking at some (stakes races),” Beckett said. “It would be good if we can get a bit of black print around her and put a bit of value on her for the owners.

“We will just wait and see. There are plenty of them (stakes races) around, we will just bring her through and take one step at a time.”

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