Change of routine works the oracle for Selfie

A shake up to his normal routine appears to have lit a fire under former top juvenile Selfie who registered his second win in succession with a top performance at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The 2015 Karaka Million runner-up had looked like he would charge through the grades with ease however had frustrated on several occasions throughout a three-year-old season that saw him register a number of minor placings without reaching the winner’s enclosure.

A similar pattern had emerged during his latest campaign before trainer Richard Collett decided to vary his approach with the Thewayyouare gelding. Those changes saw him break through on his home track at Pukekohe earlier in the month before continuing on with the job in fine style at Te Rapa.

"He’s lifted his game of late as we’ve done things a bit different with him including some schooling over the hurdles,” noted Collett.

"I think it has just sharpened him up as he’s always had the ability.

"The tracks have also been a bit hard for him. He chipped a bone off his knee during the summer with the tracks being hard so with some give in the ground it has helped him.”

Collett also acknowledged a clever ride by champion jockey Opie Bosson who saved plenty of ground against the rail before producing his charge at just the right time under the steadier of 60kgs.

"He had a lot of weight today as they all claimed round him so I think he carried 3kgs more than anyone else,” he said.

"The class of the field was even and he does have more ability than most of them. He only just got beaten three starts ago by the horse who won the open sprint today (Splurge).

"He got through the track well so I will have a talk with Opie and see where we go from here.” 

– NZ Racing Desk