KEY POINTS:
When it comes to attitude, Special Mission has what it takes for racing, says Manawatu rider Bruce Herd.
Special Mission led all the way for an impressive win in the $50,000 Ryder Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds at the Levin Racing Club's meeting at Otaki.
Herd was aboard the Towkay filly and was in awe of her afterwards.
"A true professional racehorse," was Herd's first comment.
"She's got a great attitude, doesn't do any extra in the birdcage, in the prelim. She just saves it all for when the gates open."
Herd said Special Mission, who was racing for just the second time, was like an old hand around at the start.
"She just walked around, didn't care, nothing worried her."
It was similar during the running. She was a little slow to begin but quickened when asked by Herd and then immediately settled when reaching the lead.
Then when others swooped up out wider, she again quickened to retain the lead.
Special Mission is not big in stature but obviously has her share of ability.
"They say she eats and sleeps at home. But on raceday she's got the petrol in the tank," Herd said.
Special Mission was travelling well around the home turn and Herd said was confident she would be hard to beat a good way out.
"I knew it would take a smart horse to pick me up.
"Even 500 metres out I thought they would be flat picking me up."
Special Mission scored by two lengths as a $2.80 favourite.
She had won impressively by three lengths in her debut at Matamata on July 4 but despite that success the Waikato stable of Mark Walker had not been confident of victory, said stable foreman Andrew Carston.
"She has just kept improving - unbelievable," Carston said.
"I was not confident even though she was paying only $2.80."
Carston said there was a query how Special Mission would cope with yesterday's dead track conditions after scoring in heavy ground on debut.
"That was knee-deep mud. This was a different story today," he said.
Carston said the Ryder Stakes was only considered for Special Mission after the Matamata win and even then doubts remained.
"She was never coming here. We are probably more surprised than anyone at what she has done."
Carston was unsure of future plans for Special Mission but she obviously had to be a contender for three-year-old fillies' races early in the new season.
Second yesterday was the Grant Searle-trained Go Danny whose effort was a top one.
Go Danny missed the start and settled at the rear. Rider Patrick Bell brought Go Danny along the inside in the straight and got home strongly to be cutting into the winner's lead at the finish.
"Two strides after the line, I'm in front," Bell said.
Half a length away third was Agavero who did well from the No 10 draw to get handy but weakened a little over the latter stages.
There was a fatal casualty in the race. Panesar, trained at Woodville by Neil Connors, broke down during the running and was put down.
He was found to have suffered tendon injuries to a front leg.
Panesar had won at Otaki on July 19 at his previous start when having his third start.
- NZPA
