Duo set for dream debut

BY AIDAN RODLEY

Rookie trainers Stephen Ramsay and Julia Ritchie will tomorrow publicly begin a job which will make them the envy of their peers.

The couple will saddle debutante Sercial in a three-year-old maiden race over 1200m at Taupo for their employers Peter and Philip Vela.

The Velas are arguably the most influential owner-breeders in the country, certainly up with the Sir Patrick Hogans and Garry Chitticks of this world.

Ramsay and Ritchie have supervised the Velas' racing team for leading trainer Mark Walker for the past four years at the brothers' Maungatautari training establishment from where Laurie Laxon, then Sheila Laxon, trained many topliners during their time there.

But with Walker having left for Singapore, the Velas have opted to spread some of the horses among other trainers.

The ones that haven't transferred are - at this stage at least - under Ramsay and Ritchie's care, with 33 in the stable at present.

The couple produced five runners at last week's Te Teko trials, including Gr I-placed mare Our Ella Belle and the super-impressive Redoute's Choice filly Dolmabache.

Le Bec Fin filly Sercial, who like Dolmabache is entered for the Gr I 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November, trialled for Walker last April, running second at Cambridge.

For Ramsay and Ritchie, Sercial represents their first runner as trainers and when the  filly carrying the Vela brothers' colours steps onto the Taupo track tomorrow, it marks the start of a fantastic opportunity for them.

''We're really rapt. It's all a bit overwhelming really,'' said 35-year-old Ritchie, who remains an active jockey as well.

''We've been there for nearly four years now, since Mark wanted someone out there and asked Steven to do it.

''When it came to taking over the training with Mark going away, Peter asked us to do it. He said 'don't feel any pressure to do it but I'd like you to'.

''It's a great opportunity, especially with the horses - there's some beautiful stock. There's some really nice four-year-olds that just needed time.''

The couple ride the majority of the trackwork themselves from a property which has already produced Melbourne Cup winners Empire Rose and Ethereal.

''It's an amazing place to train and a great place to bring up our child,'' Ritchie said.

The couple have a three-year-old daughter, Ella, after whom Gr I 1000 Guineas-placed Our Ella Belle was named.

''Peter is just terrific and he's been so good to us and to Ella. It's almost like she's his grandchild.''

Ramsay was looking forward to Our Ella Belle's return this spring after the Encosta De Lago mare ran an encouraging trials second at Te Teko.

''She hasn't raced since December. James [McDonald, jockey] was really happy and she's pulled up well,'' he said.

''Long-term I'd like to set her for the Cuddle Stakes. She beat Descarado last season and he came back and ran second in the AJC Derby and she was third to Katie Lee and Keep The Peace in the 1000 Guineas.''

With James McDonald having first refusal on all the Vela horses this season, the Ritchie-Ramsay partnership not only has access to top quality horses but also to elite horsemanship.

McDonald will ride Sercial tomorrow.

''We're so lucky to have him. He's got an amazing attitude and such a neat guy,'' Ritchie said of McDonald.

And what of Sercial's chances?

''She's shown us a wee bit and hopefully she can give a good account of herself,'' Ramsay said today.

''It's her first start and the track will probably end up quite wet but she's by Le Bec Fin and hopefully she'll handle it. She's drawn out a bit and if the track is wet, it might be the best place to be.

''She's lacks a bit of ringcraft and the Taupo maiden form is always strong. Andrew Scott has got one in there which he rates quite highly [Sworn To Secrecy] but hopefully she can go well.''

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