25 Dec 2017
Speed merchant Gift Of Power will be set a Group One challenge against the older horses in the near future, but the venue has yet to be confirmed.
The slick Power three-year-old showed she was primed for a tougher test when she continued her winning ways at Awapuni on Saturday in the Mills Reef Premier (1200m).
Gift Of Power was opposed by only two rivals and she had no trouble dealing with them, leading all of the way to score without being fully exerted.
She is part-owned by Bailey Rogerson, who will join her grandfather Graeme and his wife Debbie in partnership on January 1, and her mother Michelle Northcott was in charge at Awapuni.
“It will either be the Railway or the Telegraph, we’ll see what happens,” she said.
She was pig-rooting and squealing this morning, she was a bit above herself.”
That was reflected in Gift Of Power racing keenly in front under Chris Johnson, who had also ridden her to a runaway victory at Trentham at her previous appearance, but it didn’t blunt her acceleration in the straight.
Florence Jean’s challenge was short-lived and Gift Of Power glided clear with Blanco Belle the last of the trio.
“She’s a lively sort of horse that just loves to run,” the champion jockey said.
“We landed in front and she wanted to go harder, but she still found a kick at the 300 and she had a wee bit more left.”
A daughter of Power and the Group One performer Capital Diamond, Gift Of Power was bred by Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan, who have remained in the ownership.
Cambridge Stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka on January 28 will feature a half-brother (Lot 88) by Per Incanto. – NZ Racing Desk