Kelsos and Coleman looking for unique Te Aroha hat-trick

[Chief Stipe]

Ken and Bev Kelso and Michael Coleman will combine with Supera in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.

The old firm of trainers Ken and Bev Kelso and jockey Michael Coleman will be chasing a unique hat-trick when Supera lines up in the Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha on Saturday week.

The husband-and-wife duo has already won two editions of the fillies and mares’ Group One feature – with Xanadu in 2013 and Perfect Fit in 2016 – and in both instances Coleman was the rider.

Coleman returns to raceday action with seven mounts at Ellerslie on Saturday after being sidelined for the past seven weeks with a medical issue. He resumed trackwork duties early last week and rode at Tuesday’s Cambridge trials.

Ironically he was not the first choice for Supera, whose previous two raceday jockeys, Jason Waddell and Rosie Myers, are both under suspension. So too is Troy Harris, who was in the saddle when Supera accompanied Te Aroha rival Our Abbadean in an exhibition gallop between races at Matamata yesterday and was her intended Breeders’ Stakes rider.

But Harris will also be under suspension when the final Group One race of the domestic season is run. After riding Harbourside, the last of three Tony Pike-trained winners at Matamata, Harris was charged with careless riding in the final stages and will be out from the close of racing this Saturday until April 12.

“The way things were shaping our options were starting to run out, so we’re relieved that Michael was available,” Ken Kelso told www.theinformant.co.nz today.

“We’re pleased Michael is back riding and even more pleased that he’s able to accept the ride on the mare.”

Supera, the winner of five of her 11 starts including the Gr. 3 Anniversary Handicap at Trentham in January, blotted her copybook with a midfield finish when she last raced in the Haunui Farm Group One Classic at Otaki five weeks ago, but connections put that effort down to the prevailing track conditions.

“If we had known the track was going to be as bad as it turned out we wouldn’t have gone down there,” Kelso said. “Thankfully it doesn’t seem to have harmed her and she’s been building up well for Te Aroha.

“It was a nice hitout here yesterday; she and Our Abbadean ran the 1000 (metres) in a tick over a minute and came home from the 600 in under 35. It didn’t look like they were going that fast but she was there for a good blowout and it will bring her along nicely.”

Fellow Matamata trainer Jamie Richards is likewise happy with his classy mare’s progress towards Te Aroha. Our Abbadean hasn’t raced since finishing third in the Gr. 1 Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham in early December, after which she was sidelined with a bout of what is believed to have been travel sickness.

She has had two trials in recent weeks, winning the second of them over 1200 metres at Avondale a fortnight ago.

“She’s in a good space, can be electric fresh and we’re looking forward to it,” said Richards. “With the right trip she could give them a good shake.”

 

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