Smart mare ready to put the Ears Back
Matt Markham - Raceform • December 12th, 2024 7:15 PM
A small slice of redemption might be in the offering for talented mare Ears Back at Invercargill on Saturday.
It won’t go anywhere near the stake she was set to pick up in the TAB Mile at Riccarton during Cup Week, but for connections of the six-year-old, it will be a start.
The daughter of Jakkalberry had just hit the gap to the inside of eventual third-placed runner Perfect Scenario when she was squeezed and checked out of contention at the 75-metre mark. Trainer John Blackadder is adamant she was set to feature in the race won by Kopua.
“I think she was definitely going to finish top three; she was just really starting to wind up,” the North Canterbury trainer told RaceForm. “It’s a bit frustrating, but that’s racing sometimes, we still have a horse and that’s the main thing.”
Ears Back hasn’t been seen since that race but steps out at Ascot Park on Saturday afternoon chasing success in the $50,000 open 2200m event, her first try over the distance but not her first on the track.
“She’s unbeaten at Ascot Park, that was what initially put the race on the radar for us. But I’ve always wanted to get her up over the 2200 metres too – she’s by Jakkalberry, so I don’t think it will worry her too much.
“What has been her problem is that she’s always ended up leading, but we’ve been trying to teach her to relax behind one and I think she’ll race really well over the distance if she can be cuddled up behind one or two.”
That’ll be the challenge for Hawke’s Bay jockey Kate Hercock, who is coming down to ride the mare, but Blackadder is confident he’s giving her a primed and ready racehorse to win.
“I think she’ll be very hard to beat, her work has been very good at home.”
Ears Back has been a wonderful horse for Blackadder, winning six of her 29 career starts and a further five placings and stakes of more than $174,000 along the way, with the promise of a whole lot more over the coming months.
“We’ll pick and choose where we go with her, and no real decisions will be made until after this weekend, but I have got my eye on dropping her back to 1600 metres in the Timaru Cup if everything goes to plan.”
Blackadder is taking three of his current team of 18 south for Saturday’s meeting, with Reverberations and Zoom set to line up as well.
Reverberations was fifth behind Vindicator on the final day of Cup Week at Riccarton but can’t seem to buy a decent barrier draw at the moment.
“He’s been drawing wide which has made it tough for him, but his efforts have been very good. If we can land a better draw this week, I’d think he’ll have a strong chance.
“And it’s the same for Zoom, she just can’t get a barrier draw but has been racing well and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her get something either.”
Picture at the Top of the Page: Talented mare Ears Back will look to bury the demons of a nasty check in the TAB Mile when she heads to Invercargill on Saturday. Photo: Supplied
