Neither a wide draw nor a talented field of rivals at Phar Lap Raceway on Saturday could stand in the way of Ears Back, who took her career earnings past $200,000 with a tenacious performance in the Craigmore Sustainable Holdings Timaru Cup (1600m).
The time-honoured $80,000 feature was the seventh win of a 31-race career for the Jakkalberry mare, who has placed on another five occasions and has banked $221,660. She has shown a particular affinity for the metric mile, where her 22 starts have produced six wins and five placings.
Ears Back arrived at Phar Lap Raceway on Saturday on a nine-race winless streak dating back to the Southland Stakes (1400m) at Ascot Park in February, but she had shown promising signs earlier this season with a pair of second placings at Ashburton in October and November. The six-year-old was checked in the straight when 10th, only 2.7 lengths from the winner Kopua, in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on November 13, then struggled to see out the distance when a last-start sixth in Ascot Park’s Southland Crystals (2200m) on December 14.
The step back down to 1600m brought her back to the peak of her powers on Saturday, despite jumping from gate 12 in a 13-horse field.
Jockey Tina Comignaghi drove Ears Back forward from that wide barrier, sliding up into second spot within the first 100m of the race. She cruised around the track in the slipstream of the front-running The Radiant One before pouncing at the home turn and taking command.
Ears Back kicked away and stole a big break on the field with 200m remaining, and despite beginning to tire in the final few strides, she held all of her chasers at bay. Ears Back still had a length and a half up her sleeve at the line, with Jimmy Five, Tumuch and Richard Stomper filling the minor placings with two noses between them. The 1600m were run in a quick 1:34.80 on a Good4 track.
Ears Back is trained at Rangiora by John Blackadder, who also shares in the ownership.
“She’s really well named, Ears Back,” he said. “That’s her style and she’s a bit of a handful at times, but it’s all worth it, isn’t it?
“She was a bit of a disappointment up over ground last start, but we freshened her up after that and knew she was pretty well right. Today was the plan.
“She’s won six races over a mile now, so she loves that distance. It’s a really good result, thanks to a great ride by Tina. I have to thank all of the staff as well. I’m a bit overwhelmed, actually.”
The Timaru Cup was Comignaghi’s first raceday ride on Ears Back.
“I know that she’s always shown that sort of ability,” she said. “It was a strong field today, so it was a good effort to beat them the way she did.
“She kicked at the turn and I was hoping they wouldn’t be able to catch me before the line. She kept trying so hard and held on well.
“John Blackadder does a good job with his horses, and he’s got a very nice mare on his hands here.”
One of the only things missing from Ears Back’s CV is black type, with the Timaru Cup having lost its Listed status last season. Ears Back finished a close fourth in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) at Wingatui in February, beaten by less than two lengths by Perfect Scenario, Dazzling Miss and Times Ticking, and that Otago showpiece again holds appeal as a potential target later in the season.