National jockeys’ premiership leader Michael McNab brought up a significant career milestone at Rotorua on Saturday when he brought up his 100th win for the season aboard the Mark Walker-trained Synchronize.
McNab, who has eclipsed his previous best of 70 wins set last year, has made every post a winner of late and has 14 stakes victories to his credit this season.
The top jockey produced another copybook performance to land the three-year-old daughter of Savabeel a convincing winner.
McNab settled Synchronize back against the rail in the early stages of the 1400m event before picking a path between runners to challenge at the 300m.
Given a flick with the whip the filly burst clear of second favourite Aris Aris to score by a widening two and half-length margin, to record her third win from just six starts.
“She’s really good, really classy,” McNab said.
“She had good form down south in the spring, trialled well and ran really well the other day from a bad gate.
“I ended up in a spot that I didn’t want to be, but she was able to get me out of there pretty easily and she won well.
“I’m rapt to achieve the milestone and couldn’t be any happier.
“It’s great to get the 100th on a filly for Te Akau.
“A couple of years ago, I was out with Dave (Ellis) and trained with him for six months to a year and learnt the most I’ve learned off anyone, so to ride the 100th in his colours is a real honour.”
Ellis was quick to recognise the contribution that McNab had made to the Te Akau Racing stable this year.
“What a thrill for Michael (McNab) to get his 100th win for the season in such great style,” he said
“He’s a good friend of mine and he’s riding in career best form.
“It’s so cool to see him with everything in his life heading in the right direction and I’m very proud of him.
“He’s surrounding himself with good people, riding for good stables, and he’s on target to win the premiership.
“He’s had five stakes wins this season for Te Akau, with three of those on Self Obsession who tied for Filly of the Year with our homebred Belle En Rouge, while he also won on Hanalei and Leaderboard.”
Raced by the Te Akau Flexibeel Racing Partnership, Synchronize was bred by Waikato Stud and purchased out of their Book 1 draft by Ellis for $280,000 during National Yearling sale at Karaka in 2020.
Her grand-dam is the dual Group One winner Legs while she is also closely related to Group One winners Guyno, Tiptronic, Xtravagant and Sixty Seconds.