CONSECUTIVE WINS FOR SO GORGEOUS

Although harder fought than last time, So Gorgeous (4 m So You Think – Alzira, by Bertolini) got the chocolates in $30,000 Topwell Bakery Rating 65 1600 metres on Queen’s Birthday Saturday at Avondale.

On Anzac Day (25 May) at Avondale, So Gorgeous won the Topwell Bakery Rating 60 1600 metres by five lengths, clocking 1:42.2 on Heavy10 footing, and given similar conditions she scored by a nose in 1:43.6.

So Gorgeous was ridden again by Taiki Yanagida.

While co-trainer Pam Gerard was happy to get out with another win, she had concerns backing up in 10 days, and now has eyes for the $60,000 Sprinters’ Winter Championship (Listed, 1400m), weight-for-age Fillies & Mares, on Saturday 25 June at Tauranga.

“She’s stepped up, but fortunate to get a rating 60 and 65, so basically two cracks in the same grade,” Gerard said.

“She’d done well enough since last racing and, obviously, it was the right race for her, but I would have a preferred a bit longer between runs. She’s a tough mare.

“I’ll have a chat to Mike (Moroney) and contemplate running in the Fillies & Mares in three weeks at Tauranga, and try and get some black type.

“It would mean dropping back to 1400 metres, but she ran faster than the Open Handicap 1600 metres today. They’re likely to go quicker, but getting back over 1400 metres should suit her and she’s showing to make up ground pretty quickly at the moment on rain-affected footing.”

Bred by David Paykel, So Gorgeous is owned by Angela Paykel, Anna Stove, Gwynyth Webb, and Virginia Healy.

Ballymore has a good affinity with the family of So Gorgeous, as Mike Moroney trained grand-dam Alacrity (Grosvenor) for David Paykel, who became Champion 3YO Filly in Australasia, and NZ Filly of the Year, after winning the NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m), Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m), and the Royal Stakes (Gr. 3, 2000m).

Alacrity left three winners of 15 races, including Group 1 placed Pendragon (Elnadim) and unraced dam Alzira, who in turn has now left five individual winners of 15 races. It certainly has become a noteworthy family.

So Gorgeous was strapped by Samur Singh.