PONSONBY GETS INSTANT RETURN ON NEW BUY

IT’S not often you get an instant return on a horse you’ve had for only three weeks!

But that was certainly the case when Hawkesbury trainer James Ponsonby took his new acquisition Super Groovey to Wagga today.

Ridden by Jason Lyon, the four-year-old mare broke through in the Maiden Plate (1600m) to give the trainer his first winner of the season, and earned a $13,950 dividend.

An $85,000 yearling buy in New Zealand, Super Groovey had six starts in Victoria without placing.

She was put on the market after being unplaced in a TaturaMaiden Plate (1980m) on September 8, and Ponsonby bought her.

“I don’t normally have mares but was keen to have a go with a Super Seth (Super Groovey’s sire),” Ponsonby explained enroute home.

“She wasn’t all that dear, and I felt she was worth a gamble as she had not had a lot of luck in some of her races.

“Super Groovey had drawn awkwardly in three of her starts.

“She drew poorly again today (11 in a field of 11), but Jason was able to get her across to sit outside the leader Shooting Firm.

“He gave her a great ride, and it was terrific to get that first win with her straight away.”

Super Groovey ($5.50) easily defeated a late finishing Jappalouis ($7), with Shooting Firm ($7.50) holding on for third.

“After seven placings so far this season (five of them seconds), I didn’t go to Wagga with great confidence, but felt she could run in the first three,” Ponsonby said.

Wagga has been a good track for the trainer, who has prepared seven winners there – and he will be returning shortly.

Once again, he has his sights on the Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool on November 30, and hopes to have two runners.

One of those horses is Prince Of Arendell, who was unplaced on resumption at Wagga today in a Benchmark 58 Handicap(1800m); a heat of the Wagga Stayers Series.

“He will back up at Newcastle on Thursday in a Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1850m), and go back to Wagga for another heat of the Wagga Stayers Series – a Benchmark 66 Handicap over 2500m on October 18.

Ponsonby’s other Jericho Cup hopeful Will To Excel also will contest that race, and then 13 days later return to Wagga for the Mountaineer Cup (3200m), also a heat of the annual series.

Will To Excel won the Mountaineer Cup four years ago before finishing fifth in the Jericho Cup.

He also finished third in the Wagga event in 2023, and won it again last year.

Private Harry is a $4.50 third favorite in the early market on Saturday’s Group 2 wfa Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

Last November’s Newcastle The Hunter winner Briasa is $2.50 favorite, with Jimmysstar at $3.50.

All three have guaranteed places in the $20m The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18.

Twelve sprinters have been entered for the $1m Premiere, but five of them (War Machine, Nadal, In Flight, Mazu and Tiger Shark) are also among the nominations for the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Story John Curtis, September 29, 2025