Show time for promising miler at Ashburton
Jess de Lautour • October 29th, 2025 11:55 AM • 3 min read
Rangiora galloper Show Pony has been near-unbeatable so far in his four-year-old season and trainer John Blackadder is hoping his rise can continue up in grade at Ashburton on Friday.
Showing promise early in his career, the Vespa gelding finished fourth in a Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at just his second start before placing behind southern star Pivotal Ten in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m).
He earned a trip to Trentham later in the season where he finished at the back end of the field in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), but since returning from a spell he has recorded two strong victories and a second placing behind Elusive Impact at Ashburton last-start, making up lengths in an on-speed dominated affair.
Blackadder has been delighted with Show Pony’s progression, putting his only defeat this time in down to poor luck.
“He’s been going amazingly well really, he just got a little bit too far back in his last start and that cost him his chances, he was just unlucky,” he said.
“He’s matured a hell of a lot, he’s just grown up into a lovely horse. He goes down to the beach when the tide is available and he loves it, all of the horses do with the change and variety in their work.”
Friday’s Ashburton Raceway Your Gateway To Entertainment (1600m) will be Show Pony’s first test in open company, with Blackadder giving his charge the opportunity to step up for a possible Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) tilt during New Zealand Cup Week.
While the $250,000 middle-day feature holds great appeal, he wouldn’t be disappointed if Show Pony headed to a Rating 75 equivalent race instead as an up-and-coming horse.
“There are two or three options through Cup Week, the TAB Mile is in the back of our mind so we’ll see what happens on Friday,” he said.
“I’ve put him in the Open mile to see where we’re at with him, if he happened to go alright, it is worth a lot more points than running in the 75. If he doesn’t, there are nice 75 races there for him on the first and last day of Cup Week.”
Show Pony will continue his association with Central Districts jockey Kate Hercock, while stablemate Amiinit will be ridden by Mereana Hudson in the same contest.
Blackadder is hoping the current Heavy 8 (as of Tuesday morning) track at Ashburton will improve for three-year-old Gap It, who steps out for his second start in the Agraforum Comcat (1200m).
The son of Ancient Spirit battled on well on debut in tough ground at Wingatui and Blackadder was given good confidence from the comments of Hudson.
“He hated that heavy track down there, he was really battling in it but Mereana got off and said that you’ve got a really nice horse here,” he said.
“We’ve got a nice draw (2) and hopefully the track will come back a bit by Friday for him. We’ll see how he goes.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
