Apprentice jockey Ashlee Strawbridge gained her first victory at Cambridge on Wednesday and didn’t take long to make it two when she guided What A Charma (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) to success in the Seeka Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) at Tauranga on Saturday.
In a race filled with drama where Bruno Queiroz – riding eventual runner-up Gallant Hero (Fast Company) – lost the use of his irons for the majority of the contest, Strawbridge was happy to bide her time aboard the Mark Irwin-trained runner at the back of the seven-horse field.
Queiroz was having a turbulent time keeping control of Gallant Hero, who loomed up three-wide with 1200m to run before Queiroz remarkably regained his irons passing the 600m mark and immediately poured on the pressure.
What A Charma had tracked him up as Strawbridge kept her mount wide to steadily make ground in the home straight. He edged past Gallant Hero and the third-placed King Khan (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) in the shadows of the post to capture his third career victory.
Strawbridge, the daughter of former top jumps jockey Michelle Strawbridge (nee Hopkins), was thrilled to get win number two aboard one of her favourite horses.
“It was good as I didn’t plan on being that far back but he settled here nicely early on,” Strawbridge said. “He is a horse that will just try and try and try, no matter where you put him.
“That is what got him home today. He just relishes the wet ground.
“I was quite confident and hoping for the best as I knew how he is. When he comes around the bend, he gives it his all, and that’s what it takes to be a nice horse.”
Raced by Irwin along with Cynthia and Craig Horn, What A Charma was bred by Richard Wood under his Chouxmaani Investments banner.
He is out of the High Chaparral mare Urulu (NZ), who is the daughter of Gr.2 Waikato Gold Cup (2400m) winner Bak Da Chief (NZ), the dam of multiple Group One winner Te Akau Shark (NZ).