Local mare Aspen Lass belatedly turned her racing fortunes around on her home turf on Saturday with a commanding performance earning her a first stakes success.
Prepared by Riccarton trainer Terri Rae, the Alamosa mare was kept out of trouble at the back of the field by Alysha Collett before unwinding in the straight to claim the Listed Redwood Metropolitan Trophy (2500m).
“She’s got a good mentality and was off the bit all the way.”
Aspen Lass had been a minor player in her two previous runs at Timaru and at Riccarton, when runner-up in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m), both times striking trouble in the running.“She’s been one of the unluckiest horses you would come across,” stable representative Ryan Thistoll said. “Bad luck seems to follow her wherever she goes.”
However, it was turned around in the Metropolitan in which she was opposed by only six rivals.“The small field helped her and she’ll go to the paddock now for a well-earned break,” Thistoll said.
Aspen Lass accounted for the stablemates Imperium and Grazia with the pair at $6 and $10 respectively for next Saturday’s Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m).The fourth runner home was Bee Tee Junior, who is at $14 and a price likely to be trimmed if there is an easing of the track.
