Rangiora mare Ears Back (NZ) (Jakkalberry) added an all-important black-type success to her record in the autumn, and her trainer John Blackadder has designs on another fruitful campaign this spring.
The Jakkalberry seven-year-old defeated the likes of Belardo Boy and Bradman to take out the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui in May, which also provided a new career-high for Blackadder.
“It was pretty amazing, she’d been a bit unlucky in some of those big races, so it was great to go up there and do it for the owners,” he said. “She delivered on the promise she’s always showed, aided by a great ride from Mereana (Hudson).
“She had three-and-a-half weeks off to freshen her up, and we’re aiming to go back up for a Group Three mile at Awapuni on the 20th of September.”
Blackadder is referring to the Gr.3 Merial Metric Mile (1600m), and her build-up into the $100,000 feature is likely to commence at Riccarton Park on Saturday, when she contests the Stephanie Murray Mortgages Open Handicap (1400m).
“I didn’t plan to kick her off here, but she’s working a bit above herself, so I thought I’d put her in,” he said. “It does depend on the amount of rain we get though, if it’s going to be really deep, I won’t start her.
“At the moment, she’ll start, and I think she’ll give a very good account of herself. I took her down to the beach this week, which she loves, and she worked really well.”
While Blackadder will be keeping an eye on the forecast with Ears Back, rain will not be of concern to her stablemate Blane who makes his Kiwi debut in the Johnny Fresh Darfield and Yaldhurst Rating 65 (1400m).
The son of Swiss Ace originally started his career with Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson, and after winning a three-year-old trial in the early part of the 2023/24 season, he was sold to Hong Kong.
After three unplaced efforts in the competitive jurisdiction, he found his way back to New Zealand, where he has settled well into life with Blackadder.
“Clinton Isdale and I have shares in him, he’s a pretty nice horse,” Blackadder said.
“I’ve had him for about four or five months. He was fairly light in condition when he came back from Hong Kong, so we’ve done a lot of slow work with him. Hong Kong doesn’t suit a lot of horses, sometimes they need a change of scenery, and he’s happy here.
“We keep him away from the track a bit, getting down to the beach and doing different things. I had a lovely horse (from Hong Kong) called Eptimum who ended up winning quite a few races for us, and we had another couple of old fellas last year that had a few races before they were retired.”
Blackadder was struggling to get a start in a maiden event with Blane, hence his entry into the Rating 65 contest.
“He enjoys a wet track, but the only reason he’s in a 65 is because I can’t get a start with him in a maiden race, and he doesn’t like the synthetic,” he said.
“We ended up getting a start here, so we’ll see how he goes.”
Completing his representation will be Reverberations, a winner at the course in similar conditions in late April. With Bridget Grylls in the saddle, the gelding will line up in the Scenic Hotel Group Rating 75 (1600m).
“He’s had a good freshen-up and he goes well in that state, I just need to space his races out a bit more,” Blackadder said.
“He’s working well, but it is a good class of horse in that race on Saturday.”
