“It was really good to get that win first-up in New Zealand, and [he was] well ridden by Hayley, she’s riding in great form,” said Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson.
“We sent him home from Melbourne and did a surgery on him for kissing spine [syndrome] at Waikato Equine Vet Clinic, so it’s great to see him bounce back from that and win so well.
“We knew he was capable, but just with his back problems we needed to get that sorted. So well done to the vets and he’s just a different horse now.”
On-course, assistant trainer Reece Trumper was also full of praise for the horse.
“We’re so glad to have a horse like this in the stable,” he said.
“Dave [Ellis] purchased one horse out of that sale. We don’t often go to the Tattersall Sale and buy them.
“But things didn’t go to plan for him in Melbourne, we got him back to New Zealand, he did some dressage at Prima Park with Rylee Sheehan, and we’ve taken him along quietly.
“He won a Listed race in Europe, so he’s a pretty good horse and it’s good to see him do that today.
“Sam [Bergerson] and I went back and had a look at his replays. They were riding him very quiet and having one last shot at them, but we thought we’d be positive today, and Hayley is riding terrifically well at the moment.”
Bright Stripes is out of the Dutch Art mare Dutch Rose, with his three career victories earning him just over $195,000 to date.
– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk