Blackadder eyes further North Island spoils with Ears Back
Paul Vettise - Raceform • September 19th, 2025 9:00 AM
Ears Back has already proved her worth on the road, and the gifted South Island mare will bid to further her black-type record when she opens another northern campaign this weekend.
The seven-year-old has ventured across Cook Strait for a crack at the Gr. 3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile, with part-owner and trainer John Blackadder delighted with the progress she has made toward Saturday’s feature at Trentham.
Ears Back is a seasoned and successful traveller following a triumphant two-start sojourn in the late autumn.
She finished fifth and less than a length and a half off the winner in the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup and a fortnight later defeated the well-performed duo of Belardo Boy and Bradman in the Listed AGC Training Stakes. Mereana Hudson rode Ears Back on both occasions and will again take the reins at Trentham.
The daughter of Jakkalberry has made one appearance since winning the Wanganui feature, finishing sixth in an open handicap at Riccarton on August 30.
“I’m very happy with her and she needed that run a couple of weeks ago, she just blew out in the last 150 metres,” Blackadder said.
“She has come through the race nicely and her work since has been good, she worked very well at the beach on Tuesday morning.
“This race has always been on the radar and there’s one at Hawera for her as well.”
Blackadder was referring to the Gr. 3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes over 1400 metres on October 4.
“I’m not sure just yet whether she’ll stay up there or we’ll bring her home after Saturday and then go back up again,” he said.
Ears Back has been relatively lightly raced for her age, with eight victories from 38 appearances and nudging $290,000 in earnings.
“She has been unlucky in a few of the bigger races, things just didn’t go her way,” Blackadder said.
She has required a patient approach and didn’t begin her career until she was a four-year-old.
“The older she’s got, the more she has improved and is a lot more settled now,” Blackadder said. “She was a bit of a handful early on, but her attitude has improved a lot.”
Blackadder also prepared Ears Back’s half-sister Smoke House Bay to win on four occasions, with the pair’s pedigree page featuring the Gr. 1 Epsom Derby winner Pour Moi, who sired Tony Pike’s Gr. 1 JJ Atkins Stakes winner Sacred Elixir during his time at Windsor Park Stud.
Ears Back has been Blackadder’s flagship performer in more recent times with the accent mainly on youth in his Rangiora stable.
“I’ve got some nice younger horses coming through, we were quite patient with them last season and there’s some nice four-year-olds showing their worth now,” he said.
Among them is Vespa’s son Show Pony, a dual winner from a handful of starts and runner-up in the Listed Gore Guineas behind Pivotal Ten. He unfortunately missed an outing at Riccarton last Saturday when late-scratched at the barrier after dislodging rider Jack Taplin.
“He’s a lovely horse and will probably run in the Rating 75 over 1600 metres at Riccarton next week and he’s nominated for the middle day (Gr. 3 Join TAB Racing Club Mile) of the Cup Carnival,” Blackadder said.
