Dancing to the Top
16 March 2015
Promising stayer Iffwedance (NZ) (Iffraaj) claimed his first stakes victory in Listed $50,000 Hiremaster New Zealand St Leger (2500m) at Trentham on Saturday.
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Iffwedance (NZ) wins the Listed Hiremaster New Zealand St Leger. |
Winning back-to-back races, Iffwedance produced his first stakes win, which is his third win from 18 races. His last start two weeks ago was his second try over a staying distance, winning over 2100m for trainer Trina Riddell. The four-year-old has placed in a further eight races, including running third in the Group 3 Manawatu Classic.
“I was really pleased with him,” commented Riddell. “I was a bit worried going into the race as we have been trying to keep him settled by running him in 1400m races and wasn’t sure if he would settle in the longer distance.
“Jonathan (Riddell) said he was really pleased with him and he finished the race well. We thought he might not handle the distance but he proved us wrong. Jonathan said he felt as though he wanted to keep going at the end and was a bit difficult to pull up.”
Iffwedance was one of the first away from a wide barrier, with Jonathan Riddell riding, to settle in fourth position, one off the rail as Sheezababe (NZ) (Zabeel) and Odabella (NZ) (Keeper) led the field.
Coming off the turn for home, Iffwedance sprinted to the lead in the final 200 metres with pacemaker Sheezababe trying to stick with him. Iffwedance forged away from Sheezababe in the closing stages to win by half-a-length, with Bajour (NZ) (Volksraad) taking third placing.
“He has gone out for a spell at Goodwood Stud already,” said Riddell. “He will come back into work next Monday and, if I am happy with how he is working, I will look to race him in the Hawke’s Bay Cup in April.
“If he makes it to Hawke’s Bay, that will be the last race for him this season as he has been in work for a long time now and he doesn’t like the wet tracks.
“I think he would be a good contender to race in Brisbane and Rex (Fell) is keen to take him over. If he comes into work well next spring we will possibly look at this as an option early on in his preparation.”
The four-year-old gelding has won a total of $68,510 for owners Rex and William Fell of Goodwood Stud. Iffwedance was offered at the 2012 South Island Sale of 2YO’s & Mixed Bloodstock by Goodwood Stud.
Bred by AJ & Mrs GP Fell, Iffwedance is sired by one of New Zealand’s leading stallions Iffraaj and is out of winning mare Merry Dance (Soviet Star). His granddam, French Kaper (Kaapstad), is a three-quarter-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Tall Poppy (Kaapstad) and is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Fun On The Run (Racing if Fun) and multiple stakes winner Frentic (Truly Vain).