Super Photon bounces back at Tauranga

[Wandering Eyes]

Former classy youngster Super Photon returned to winning form at Tauranga on Thursday when taking care of a strong line-up in the Dane Crockford Ray White Greerton 1500.

The four-year-old son of Super Seth had shown plenty of ability in his formative years, winning both of his starts as a juvenile, including the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1400m).

He continued to please as a three-year-old, adding a further two wins to his tally before undergoing a wind operation late last season.

He failed to fire in his first three starts as a four-year-old, finishing last in his first two outings before running fifth at Taupo last month, and was unwanted by punters on Thursday, drifting out to a $10.80 outsider in the seven-horse field.

Trainer Stephen Marsh wanted to see his charge relax during the running and utilised the services of jockey Sam Weatherley, who did just that when settling off the pace, three back on the rail.

He subsequently progressed into the one-one behind Island Life when rounding the turn for home. Weatherley went in search for a run up the rail, but that gap closed inside The Underbelly, and he shifted back out to chase race favourite Dealt With. Super Photon showed glimpses of his former self when displaying a good turn of foot late to reel him in and win by a neck.

“I was starting to scratch my head a little bit,” Marsh said. “He had been drawing well, he just hadn’t been settling. I put Sam Weatherley on who is very good at getting a horse to settle, he always has been. I said to him ‘I don’t care where you are in the running, as long as he is relaxed’.

“He probably paraded the best I have seen him today too. He was off the bridle and wasn’t on his toes. I loved the fact that he was really nice and relaxed in the running. When he went for that inside run I thought it might have cost him, but he was really good to the line.

“It was a nice field of horses and he was really good late, so I am very happy.”

Marsh was rapt that Super Photon is back on track to showing the talent he promised as a juvenile.

“He has had his fair share of problems along the way, he had a wind operation as a late three-year-old,” Marsh said. “He does have a lot of ability, he has got a great turn of foot, and it was good that he showed it all again today.”

Following his pleasing performance, Marsh is now looking towards some feature mile targets with Super Photon, which could include the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night.

“He might have just put his hand up,” Marsh said.

Weatherley was just as impressed with Super Photon’s performance and believes he is up to tackling stakes company once more.

“Early on as a two and three-year-old it looked like he was one of our better horses going around and he just had a few different issues. He has been doing a few things wrong of late in his races and probably not finishing off like he could,” he said.

“Marshy just wanted me to relax him early and if he was anywhere near his best he was going to be finishing off strongly.

“It wasn’t just a midweek field. If he can take a bit of confidence out of this, which I expect him to, he will step up to Group level again somewhere.”

Super Photon is raced by the Bourbon Lane Stable New Zealand partnership and their colours were to the fore once again later in the day when stable and ownership mate Kiwi Skyhawk won the Ray White Greerton 2100.

“He hasn’t been getting a lot of luck,” Marsh said. “I put Warren (Kennedy, jockey) on today, who is a beautiful rider of a stayer. I said ‘use your draw’ (1) and he got him there. I thought he came off the bridle a little bit at about the 700m and I was a little bit worried, but they were going very quick.

“It was nice to see him back in the winning groove and to get a couple of winners in the Bourbon Lane colours, especially going into the sales.”

Doddle finished well to secure a stable quinella in the race.

“Bill (Wiremu Pinn, jockey) got her nice and relaxed and she attacked the line really well,” Marsh said. “She might have been a bit inconvenienced with such a quick speed.”

Marsh had a day to remember at Tauranga, also scoring wins with Battle Tycoon in the Ray White Real Estate Maiden 3YO 1300 and Bellarista in the Social Club Greerton 1200.

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