Third Stakes-Winner for Adelaide
Progressive mare Malt Time (6m Adelaide x Pimms Time , by Pins) left it late but got in the deciding stride to register her first victory at Black Type level when she took out the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa in New Zealand on Saturday.
The lightly raced mare had well and truly hinted she would be a serious lightweight contender after storming to victory over 1100m under a 57.5kg steadier in lesser company at her last start.
Carrying a luxurious 53kgs on this occasion, jockey Masa Hashizume allowed the natural back runner to find her feet early in in the contest and she powered home to win by a head overcoming a bump in running.
Co-trainer Shaun Clotworthy, who prepares the mare alongside wife Emma, was concerned the interference that his charge took clearing a pocket in the run home had cost her victory.
“I’m rapt with that as I knew the angle favours the outside in a tight finish at Te Rapa and she got there,” he said.
“Mind you at the 100m I didn’t think she had any chance to win as she lost some momentum getting clear and I thought it was all over.
“That type of pattern today suits her as she needs to find her feet early and she can really finish her races off strongly, which you saw at the finish.”
Clotworthy was also delighted for part-owner Bill Borrie who had purchased the mare by Adelaide for $4,100 off gavelhouse.com back in 2018 as a broken-in two-year-old.
“Bill bought her off gavelhouse and she didn’t race until a late three-year-old as she had a few issues,” Clotworthy said.
“She has cost herself races by running about but time has helped her and now she is a little stronger, she has really come to it in the last six months.
“The way she races I think 1400m will be ideal for her so we might look at the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) at Pukekohe in a fortnight for her next.”
Bred by Nearco Stud and raced by Bill and Carrie Borrie, Malt Time is out of Group II winning Pins mare Pimms Time, who comes from the family of champion Australian mare Emancipation and numerous Group I winners including Stratum Star and Railings.
With four wins and three placings from 15 starts, she becomes the third stakes-winner for Adelaide, who stands at a fee of $5,500.