Ellerslie, home to several of New Zealand's most esteemed race-days, underwent a major reconstruction to install the new StrathAyr surface over the past 22 months, and the inaugural meeting commenced with a competitive Barfoot & Thompson Ellerslie Is Back 1200.
The potent combination of Stephen Marsh and Sam Spratt were fresh from a thriller in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) with Mercurial on Saturday, and joined forces with Merchant Queen , who was aiming to maintain her unbeaten status.
A daughter of Merchant Navy, the filly entered the winner's circle on debut in August, and went two-from-two when resuming at Arawa Park last month ahead of subsequent next-start winner Aequus. She started a $4.40 TAB tote third-fancy in the compact three-year-old contest, with Egyptian Queen heading the market at $3.30.
Spratt hustled the filly out of barrier five with designs on the lead, though shared pace-making duties with Bevanda down the back straight. Entering the home turn, Merchant Queen left her rivals chasing in the straight, and despite the best efforts of a game Ethereal Star and emerging talent My Annie Belle, the filly charged to victory by 1& ½ lengths.
Dylan Johnson represented the Marsh contingent at Ellerslie, and was delighted to see the filly handle the step-up into open three-year-old company.
"It's fantastic, she's a filly that's just worked her way through the grades and it's not easy to go three on the bounce," he said.
"We thought the draw may have been a bit sticky, but Sam is riding in great form, obviously yesterday as Group One winner and again today. She's probably riding as well as she ever has.
"Today was a real find-out day, to see if she's been in the right sort of class those first two runs but she's beaten a good field today. She had to do a bit of work, so from here we'll get her home but perhaps a race like the Almanzor Trophy (Gr.3, 1200m) on Karaka Millions night might hold some appeal."
Spratt expressed high-praise for the course, which had undergone a series of gallops, jump-outs, and official trials before the green light was given for January 14.
"That was really good, she skipped along really easily and got a nice enough lead to ping off the corner," she said.
"It's beautiful out there, so smooth and you just cruise around the corner. It's a stunning track."
Merchant Queen completed the 1200m event in 1.09.51, with a 33.05s last 600m, though the track demonstrated it's fair nature in the following event as two-year-old So Naïve scorched home from back in the field to score.
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing's CEO Paul Wilcox was an emotional figure post-race, understandably relieved to see the track performing to expectation.
"I just feel relieved. It's been four years of hard work, so it's pretty cool to see it happen. I think it's great for Sam Spratt, an Auckland rider to win the first here at Ellerslie on our return as well."
