Stayer’s Tauranga win stuns trainer The future Group One prospects of the stayer Bechtolsheimer took an unexpected turn at Tauranga. Ardmore Lodge trainer Joanne Surgenor sent the five-year-old on the first step toward the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup with modest expectations on Friday and was stunned with the mare’s performance. Bechtolsheimer had the audacity to come with loping strides in the straight to gun down her open class sprint rivals in the New World Summer Cup Handicap. “She did that very easily and I was blown away,” Surgenor said. “I just thought that if she finished it off well that would be great, but she’s done it in such style.” Bechtolsheimer made good progress during her winter and spring campaign with three consecutive wins to fuel ambitions for a premier staying prize. She was given six weeks off after being beaten, but not disgraced, in the Gr.3 Sofitel Luxury Hotels Stakes at Ellerslie behind Zennista in November and returned with an unplaced run at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Hence Surgenor’s lack of confidence in Bechtolsheimer’s prospects over 1400 metres at Tauranga, but the daughter of Remind had other ideas and downed the stakes performers Antonio Lombardo and Miss Pelear with ease at odds of 30-1. “This was just supposed to be a stepping stone on the way to the cup,” said a surprised Surgenor. “I’ll get her home and see how she does, but there’s an open mile at Pukekohe for her, the Karaka Stayers at Ellerslie, the Avondale Cup and then the Auckland Cup – that’s the plan.” Bechtolsheimer is raced by Surgenor’s aunt Glenys Munro, who lives near Winton in central Southland, and won twice in the South Island before she was sent north early last year. – NZ Racing Desk.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 03:44:09 +0000
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