New Year's Resolutions

 Perhaps Pfieffer Racing’s New Year’s Resolution is consistency, with the stable notching a top three finish with their six starters over the past week.

Well placed horses and well timed runs have paid a dividend for Team Pfieffer with six runners from Nowra to Royal Randwick all hitting the board to give the young trainer an early New Year cheer as he boarded a plane for the Gold Coast this morning.

On the final day of 2016 the aptly named big, dark horse in Denzil strode away for a convincing win at Nowra over 1200m, justifying the skinny odds of $1.40 to score with Chad Lever aboard.

By the venerable Darley sire Denman, responsible for Pfieffer’s best mare at present in Denmagic, Denzil shares his sire’s impressive physique and whilst not quite scaling the heights of his Group 1 winning father is in for a fruitful sprinting campaign.

“He’s a big, robust animal and made the most of a great ride by Chad (Lever) to overcome a wide gate and bog-track” commented Pfieffer.

Denzil was eased back after jumping well enough to be second last and a good seven lengths from the leader Touchdown, who appeared full of running as the field straightened.

Chestnut Road quickly assumed a nice trail after the jump to be fourth but after a dawdling pace was set by race favourite Dark Eyes, Schofield took matters into his own hands and pressed forward to assume the lead passing the 1000m.

The big horse began his move and was widest at the corner but with a powerful burst of speed was able to account for his rivals with ease and draw away to win by nearly three lengths, with racecaller Mitchell Mathers clearly enjoying the victory when declaring “Ma Man Denzil!” in his best American accent after the post.

The two fillies that accompanied Denzil to Nowra were far from disgraced and almost gave Pfieffer his first three-peat, if not for a hard run to Imposition and unsuitable track for Penultimate Star.

The jet black filly Imposition was denied by the “bob of the head” in a fighting finish to race four, after enduring a wide run in transit and being forced off the fence to be leading in an awkward position.

Despite looking hard at work passing the 300m, the filly bravely fought back only to be denied on the line by Wah Tootsie who enjoyed an easier run and lesser weight.

Penultimate Star fell victim to a deteriorating track and slow pace in the final event, with Silver Comet and Akumandi controlling the tempo up front and making for a procession over the concluding stages to leave Pfieffer’s filly gamely holding third.

Veteran galloper Chestnut Road was another to almost taste victory early in the New Year at Randwick when narrowly missing in the 1400m event with Glyn Schofield in the saddle.

In an oddly run affair Chestnut Road lead the field into the straight and was full of running approaching the famous Randwick “rise” with Dark Eyes hard ridden behind him, and in a three way battle with Sovereignaire joining in to the inside the race quickly changed complexion and the sprint was on.

“Chester” fought hard but was just pipped on the line by the favourite who found momentum in the dying stages to record another placing at his favourite course.

“He loves Randwick and the 1400m, so I had confidence in him to run well and he didn’t let us down.

“He might be getting on but he still has an incredible zest for racing and he defiantly carried the 60kg to be narrowly beaten” said Pfieffer.

After a few tight finishes it was left to the stunning mare Tswalu to make amends and she didn’t disappoint when winning impressively at Wyong a few days later.

The daughter of Northern Meteor races in the famous orange and purple capped silks of Widden Stud and enjoyed a gun trail behind the leader Dynamic Bid, stalking the pace and turning into the straight in front to be holding off all challengers.

“It was a superb effort and she was powerful to the line; pushed out by Angland and deserving of the win”.

Tswalu broke her maiden at just her second start, having run a promising second at her first run at Wyong two weeks prior.

“She has always shown plenty of ability but was struck with injuries early in her career. We had to be patient with her and we were, and now we are reaping the rewards”.

Finally on Saturday the ever consistent Ziggy Willie stepped out for his eighth run this campaign in a benchmark 85 event at Warwick Farm.

Weighed down with an imposing 61kg and dealt barrier 8, the bar was set high but to Ziggy’s credit, the gelding kept finding something to run an amicable third behind the lightly weighted Kudero and Alart.

“Ziggy has gone to another level this campaign” said Pfieffer.

“He just puts in 110% each time, and looking at him on Saturday I couldn’t have imagined him any better; he just looked a million bucks”.

Ziggy Willie is likely to be rewarded with a spell as Pfieffer begins to finalise the plans of his Autumn stars, headed by the Group 1 placed Denmagic.

But first the trainer will be casting his eye over the blue-blooded types on parade on the Gold Coast, hopefully securing his next winner amongst the myriad of horseflesh in what hopes to be a cause for celebrations in the sunshine state over the coming week.