Spiritual Bliss makes it four in a row at Alexandra Park

By Barry Lichter 

Punters aren’t the only ones staggered by the dramatic improvement in Spiritual Bliss, who became the country’s winningest horse in December with another all-the-way success on New Year’s Eve at Auckland.

All of 15,000km away in Abkhazia, her owner Dave Phillips is marvelling at how after two and a half years of battling around the racetracks of the South Island, scoring just twice in 39 starts, she has racked up four straight wins in as many starts at Lincoln Farms.

Phillips, 76, a one-time high-flyer in the industry here, as the founder of National Bloodstock and Pacer Pacific and Pacer Kerridge Corporations, these days lives in the small republic on the Black Sea, at Russia’s southern border, having recently escaped the vicious winter temperatures of St Petersburg.

And while he can only watch delayed replays of the mare’s races, Phillips is nevertheless revelling in the unexpected glories of the six-year-old he remembers hand-feeding as a foal.

“It’s very exciting to be involved, not just in Bliss, but in this remarkable transformation.

“With race mares, in my experience the happier they feel, the better they seem to try on raceday - and someone or something has improved her state of happiness. Maybe she’s fallen in love with a horse or a person at Lincoln Farms?”

Senior trainer Ray Green says he’s not Bliss’ new love interest, and about the only other person who drives her in work is his much better-looking partner Nathan Delany.

“Everybody gets on with her, she’s easy to work with, but she’s not that friendly and I suspect if you put her in the paddock with another mare she’d probably kick her.”

Phillips’ next guess is that a change of diet might have helped or perhaps less fast work.

Green says he doesn’t know what the mare used to eat but his training regime, honed after decades of experimenting, could explain the improvement.

“She has no special needs but our routine obviously suits her. I’m quite conservative compared with many trainers. I believe over-training is the biggest killer of form. We train them only once a week if they’re racing.”

Spiritual Bliss has had no vet work that might explain her rejuvenation, says Green, and only one minor gear adjustment - removal of her overcheck.

Whatever the reason, Phillips is glad he decided to try Spritual Bliss himself after the person who leased the mare opted out after one disappointing prep after another.

“He was very patient and I’d extended his lease twice as he hoped one day she would start showing on the racetrack what she showed in training.”

When the lessee finally decided ‘no more’ Phillips emailed several northern trainers who declined to take up his offer of a five to six month lease, or simply did not reply.

“My plan was to bring her back up north for breeding in December and for her race for four months while in foal, but there were no takers.

“Ray then agreed to try her at my cost. I’ve known Ray for some decades and always held him in very high regard as both a human and a horse trainer.”

Phillips, a long-time student of breeding and genetic crosses, said he had always been impressed by an email Green once sent reminding him about his involvement in breeding mares that resulted in his great pacer Copy That.

“I’m still in the breeding game but on a smaller scale. Bliss is closely related to 2025 dual Oaks winner Arafura and to our recent NZ Cup day winner Spirit Downunder.”

Phillips, who still has stock at his Heartland Farm at Pokeno, and plans to visit soon, was represented at Alexandra Park last night by his son Isaac, who passed on Green’s wish that Spiritual Bliss not be put in foal this season.

“I’m guided by Ray and I say a huge thanks to him and Nathan and their staff and, of course, also to young Harrison Orange. Harrison hopefully will now drive her for the rest of her race career.

“All these people, and more, created this new lease of life in Bliss and it has given me a real lift. These past five weeks have made up ten-fold for any prior disappointment. I’m really thrilled.”

From a mare who always had above average ability but rarely showed it on raceday, Phillips now has a winning machine who has graduated from Palmerston North to Cambridge to a premier night at Auckland, banking $34,650 - and hasn’t stopped winning yet, according to Green.

“I couldn’t see how they’d beat her last night from the draw,” Green said. “She’s a good pacer and has a bit of speed.”