Eyretime Wins Bluff Cup

Bruce Stewart Journalist

Swimming has undoubtedly helped American Eyretime turn a corner.

The four year old mare qualified at Ashburton in April 2019 as a two year old for her breeder David Thompson. Underlining her potential, she finished behind quality fillies Spellbound and Stylish Memphis.

In September 2019 she was driven in a trial by Canterbury trainer Terry Chmiel and was purchased shortly afterwards by her current owners Robert and Sharyn Symon.

American Eyretime warming up for trainer driver Craig Ferguson

She had a handful of starts for Chimel without winning before she headed south to Brett Gray’s stable where she won once, before heading to Craig Ferguson’s Young Quinn Raceway stable from where she’s gone on a three start winning roll.

“She seems to be really happy in the pool. She’s trying a bit harder and finding the line really nice. It’s helped by just not jogging her on the track and we only hopple her every now and then. Most of her work is done in the pool so there’s no pressure on her legs and she’s happy doing that,” Ferguson said after her fourth win today.

In today’s feature Ferguson settled American Eyretime three back on the outside. With 350 metres to run he peeled her off the back of Wrecking Ball and she let down nicely in the middle of the track to beat The Big Lebowski by a length and three quarters with Pay Me Speedy running third three quarters of a length back.

“I probably went a wee bit sooner than I would have liked but when I came out, she just cruised on by and hit the line nice. It felt like she had a bit left in store. She’s best with one shot at them and when they were going hard today. I knew that as long as I got a run, she’d be pretty hard to beat.”

American Eyretime (pink) coming down the middle of the track

Closer shot

Back to the birdcage

In her previous two starts American Eyretime has been a bit tardy at the start giving her driver and punters a few concerns.

“We had a pole on her and she didn’t like that, so I took it off her today and she was good as gold.”

Ferguson says the Tintin In America mare will be aimed at a $20,000 Winter Series race at the Forbury Park Trotting Club Meeting at Wyndham on 7^th July.

“I think she’ll handle the step up (in grade).”