She’s Poppy (NZ) Superb Fresh in Rangitikei Gold Cup

In her first start for more than six months, $40,000 Ready to Run Sale purchase She’s Poppy (NZ) (Alamosa) produced an outstanding performance to win Saturday’s $50,000 Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup (1550m) at Awapuni, earning valuable black type.

The six-year-old’s last appearance was in the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November, in which she finished a respectable and close-up seventh.

Running over half of that distance on Saturday, She’s Poppy sat in third-last in the nine-horse field. Rider Shaun McKay brought her to the extreme outside rounding the home turn, and she sprinted powerfully through testing wet ground to beat fellow Karaka graduate Ringo (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) by three-quarters of a length.

She’s Poppy was bred by Richard Cottle and is a half-sister to two other stakes performers – the Listed placegetters Ridley (NZ) (Handsome Ransom) and Deputy (NZ) (Deputy Governor).

Offered by Venture Thoroughbreds at the 2013 Ready to Run Sale, She’s Poppy was bought by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo for $40,000.

She’s Poppy has now had 25 starts for seven wins, four placings and $138,720 in prizemoney – three and a half times her purchase price – and a first victory at stakes level further enhances her value.

She’s Poppy’s win showcased the all-round horsemanship skills of Wanganui trainer and part-owner Raymond Connors, who also won the Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) at Te Rapa on the same day.