Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Although a little while in the making, Zerre (4 m Zacinto – Kerre, by Pour Moi) broke through stylishly in the $18,500 Westbrook Wines Maiden 1400 metres on 6 November at Avondale.
An easy winner when trialling as a two-year-old and the winner of four trials in total, Zerre had proved a touch frustrating when looking to replicate the form on race day, but she finally capped her thirds, fourths, and fifths, with a resounding victory.
Ridden by apprentice jockey Hayley Hassman (a3), who recently won the Toby Autridge Trophy for Most Promising First Year Apprentice, Zerre drew wide (13) and travelled in 10th behind a genuine pace. Still well back and standing the leader nine lengths at the 600m, she got clear of runners at the 250m and produced an undeniable finish to win going away.
On Good4 footing, Zerre ran 1400 metres in 1:23.5, last 600m in 34.8 (approx.), and paid $17.10 & $4.80 on the NZ TAB tote.
“She’s always had a lot of potential, but her manners have let her down and she’s finally turned them around and realized it’s not that bad,” said trainer Pam Gerard.
“She’s got a blistering turn of foot when she uses it, but she was always using it at the beginning of the races.
“She just wanted to go flat out from the start, which put her on speed and that became her undoing.
“We’ve now been able to introduce more variety into her training because she’s settled down and she’s learning to relax better.
“It was a pretty hectic pace, too, which worked out beautifully for her and Hayley (Hassman) gave her a perfect ride.
“She’s got a really good group of owners that have been supportive of Ballymore for a long time and I’m pleased to get another winner for them.”
Owned by M Bogoievski, Grant Devonport, Kariba Racing Pty Ltd, Craig Lindberg, Simon Moutter, Simon O'Connor, Jason Paris & Andrew South, Zerre was purchased for $70,000 by Paul Moroney Bloodstock & Catheryne Bruggerman at the Karaka 2023 Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Leanarch Lodge.
The same buyers selected and purchased her year older half-brother and former stable-mate Pendragon (U S Navy Flag), who, inside a month, capped consecutive wins with a hat-trick in the Auckland Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m).
By former Valachi Downs stallion Zacinto (Dansili), Zerre has a strong influence of English Derby winners in her bloodlines, with dam sire Pour Moi (Montjeu) winning the prestigious event in 2011 and triple Group One winner, family member, and sire, Authorized (Montjeu) scoring in 2007.
After winning with Vougeot (Eminent) at Avondale, Zerre became the second recent winner on the course for Gerard, since she began training independently, while her association with Hassman now reads five starts, a win, and two placings.
The win by Zerre followed stable-mate Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes) taking out the 3YO 1400 metres two days earlier on Melbourne Cup Day at Ellerslie, a victory that confirmed his path to the $700,000 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Saturday 15 November at Riccarton, which Gerard won last year with subsequent Champion Three-Year-Old Savaglee (Savabeel).
“He pulled up well from the race, went out in the paddock for a day when he got home, and I’ll put a rider back on him tomorrow,” said Gerard, referring to Affirmative Action.
“He needed that race, had a good blow afterwards, and I’m pretty happy with him. We’ll have two in the 2000 Guineas, with Romanoff (Belardo) earning himself a start after producing a big run for third in the Sarten Memorial (Gr. 2, 1400m) last Saturday at Tauranga.
“They’re both going down there in good form and hopefully they can perform accordingly. They fly down early next Wednesday (12 Nov.) and have a couple of days track work on the course.”
In the TAB fixed odds market for the 2000 Guineas, Affirmative Action is currently $3.80 & $1.70 and Romanoff $7.00 & $2.50.