Trip of a lifetime

Winton trainer Chelsea Faithful took a leap of faith in taking her three year old filly Ideal Crown (American Ideal) to Auckland for the Group One $100,000 Pascoes the Jewellers Northern Oaks, but she had unwavering belief in her horse.

“For someone like me that only trains a half a dozen, it’s not every day you get a horse good enough to go up there. There have been numerous people out there questioning what I was doing but I was glad she was able to go up there and prove everyone wrong,” Faithful said.

For Ideal Crown to run second just one and three quarter lengths behind quality filly Cath in the fillies feature, was a huge thrill for her trainer.

“I’m over the moon and it’s probably more than I could have dreamt of. I’m proud of her. There were some horses who weren’t going to get the distance and the interference down the back helped her get off the fence. I was thinking if she could run in the first five in the field and be hitting the line I’d be happy. She couldn’t have got a better trip and turning for home she definitely got held up a bit and it cost her getting closer to the winner.”

Twelve of the ownership group were at Alexandra Park to watch Ideal Crown race into second place and for many it was like a win.

“A few of the fellas in the Gabriels Gold Syndicate partied all night, got no sleep, went to the plane first thing in the morning and went home to the duck pond.”

Travel delays and stabling issues certainly created challenges particularly for her trainer, but the horse handled the trip well.

“She handled it like a professional. She used to be one that when you took her to the races she’d get a wee bit warm, nervous and shaky but since she won at Winton she seems to have grown up. Hopefully this trip will be the making of her. I was a wee bit worried about her because she hasn’t eaten very well that whole time except the night before she raced, which I was happy about. I’m hoping the next time she goes away she’ll eat much better.”

Faithful added that Ideal Crown handled the build up to the big race in the Alexandra Park barn well.

“She just took it all in her stride. She was standing there playing with the chains and was happy and bright.”

Bred by Ann-Marie Luxton, Ideal Crown was bought by Faithful on spec for just $5,000 from the Woodland draft at the 2023 NZB Standardbred Weanling Sales.

“She (Luxton) was at the races on Friday night so she got to come and see her. That was quite cool. She works for Woodlands.”

In two seasons of racing Ideal Crown has fashioned a very good record.

She won the Group Three Caduceus Club of Southland/Alabar Fillies Classic on debut and since then has run second and third in Group One races, has been placed second and third in Group Two races and second in a Group Three feature.

She’s now banked her connections over $85,500 and $50,950 of that is place money.

“She probably lacks a bit of high speed but she tries so hard and that makes up for it.”

Ideal Crown isn’t paid up for any stakes series but later in the season the New Zealand Oaks will be one of her main targets.

Ideal Crown is currently still in Auckland at Woodlands Stud where she’s having a week off before flying home.

“I ummed and ahed about spelling her up here but I think I’d rather have her where I can see her.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink