Todd rapt to win first group one race with Show Gait

Acclaimed young North Canterbury trainer Regan Todd recorded his first group one success when Show Gait was victorious at the Australasian Breeders Crown in Melbourne on Saturday night.

Todd combined with master horseman Mark Purdon for the win, the latter doing the driving.

“Words can’t really explain it,” said Todd after the win. “I’m pretty bloody rapt. I’m never a ‘confidence’ person heading in to races but she seemed spot on after the way she had trialed at Shepparton last week and worked since. It’s been awesome over here the past month. I had some good experiences with Mark Jones’ horses but to do it with one of your own is bloody cool.”

Purdon went forward off the mobile and had her parked for most of the first lap before getting one-one cover behind The Great Redeemer for the last circuit.

It was a thrilling four-horse race to the finish line but Show Gait finished best to outdo Moonshine Linda and The Great Redeemer.

“The way it panned out, I thought that was going to make it tough enough for her, but she dug deepest,” said Todd.

For Todd, the win was extra satisfying because he had been entrusted the horse by Purdon and training partner Natalie Rasmussen, whose mother Cheryl owns the filly.

“They said she was a bloody nice filly that needed time, and because Cheryl owned her, they would give her every opportunity out on the beach with me. I was very lucky she came up the driveway, to be honest.”

The relationship has blossomed, the All Stars heads sending Todd a number of horses since then, as well.

“It’s just sort of snowballed from there, really. Hicori is quite a nice horse, and Alta Ronaldo is there, too.

“And that’s probably the best thing about all this is getting the win for them, with Mark driving it. It was nice to pay them back for the faith they’ve shown in me,” said Todd.