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Saturday’s Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham delivered multiple milestones for the connections of Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb.
The underrated five-year-old became the first stakes winner for her New Plymouth trainer Kim Reid, who also co-bred and part-owns the daughter of Complacent. Hi Yo Sass Bomb was ridden to her Cuddle Stakes success by Irish jockey Joe Doyle, who notched up his 100th win in New Zealand.
It was also a well-deserved turn at the top of the podium for Hi Yo Sass Bomb herself. Her previous appearances at black-type level had produced a sixth in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), fourth in the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders' Stakes (1400m), a close fifth behind class mare Campionessa in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m), and a last-start second to Contribute in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m).
There was a six-week gap between the Taranaki Cup and Saturday's Cuddle Stakes, but Reid kept Hi Yo Sass Bomb up to the mark with a trial win at Foxton on March 7. She was at fever pitch for Saturday's $120,000 fillies and mares' feature, and she swept to an emphatic victory under a well-timed Doyle ride.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb jumped well from her inside gate and slid forward in the first 100m of the race, then Doyle was happy to take up a position in third as Kelly Coe led the field down the back straight at a strong tempo.
Kelly Coe opened up a big lead and was still clearly in front rounding the home turn, but then Doyle pushed the button and Hi Yo Sass Bomb pounced.
She charged to the lead with 300m remaining and kicked away, keeping enough petrol in the tank to hold out a strong late challenge from Apostrophe and win by a long neck.
"It's bloody amazing," said Reid, who currently has just the one horse in work and has saddled a total of five winners from 35 runners.
"I was hoping all the way down the straight, and I know she's as tough as nails. For her to get the win is amazing. It's awesome.
"She's a real family horse. We bred her and we've had her all the way through, and my parents have been involved all the way through too. It's just amazing. It's really cool."
Hi Yo Sass Bomb's 15-start career has now produced four wins, four placings and $163,520 in stakes.
"She's been fitting to her name, she's been quite sassy at times, but she's really grown into it these days and is a real professional," Reid said. "People keep saying she's just a mudder, but I think she'll run on anything. She's such a neat horse. We'll wait and see what we do with her next, but it's great to get this win with her."
The TAB now rates Hi Yo Sass Bomb a $14 chance for the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on March 30. That market is headed by La Crique ($3.20), Molly Bloom ($4), Pearl Of Alsace ($6) and Mustang Valley ($8).
Doyle was delighted to complete his century of Kiwi winners, which includes 13 at Group or Listed level.
"That's 100 New Zealand winners, and I want to thank everyone that's looked after me over the last 18 months or so that I've been riding here," he said. "Hopefully the next 100 will be as quick!
"This mare was really good today. Fair play to Kim – she had her in absolutely top nick for this race. We travelled comfortably all the way and we were going a good, strong gallop. She picked up well and hit the line strongly.
"It's a big day for Kim and the team, and I was very happy to do the steering for them.
"I would have been happy enough to lead, but luckily enough we had a hare to chase down. It was just a comfortable, easy win in the end. I'm delighted."
