Talented mare Full Of Spirit earned a return trip across the Tasman after a triumphant return to racing in the JRA Trophy (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Full Of Spirit (4m Flying Spur’s – Imposingly by Zabeel) resumed from a six-month break to defeat a competitive line-up of open class sprinters in Auckland.  “That was the big reason for coming here as we had made no plans and wanted to get a line on her,” trainer Roger James said.  We got that.  There are major carnivals at Melbourne and Sydney and one of those will beckon I’m sure.”

Raced by Haunui Farm and Hylton Mackley, Full Of Spirit had won a trial on a heavy Paeroa track in the lead-up to Ellerslie.  “I thought it was a big effort to win after she got a fair way back,” James said.  “She came around every horse and class won out in the end.”

That class was evident during an autumn campaign which saw her progress from a restricted win at Awapuni to victory in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes at Randwick.  She was a late entry for the G1 Australian Oaks and finished a creditable fourth behind Streama before returning home to Cambridge.

James bought Full of Spirit for $275,000 from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2010 NZ Bloodstock Premier Sale acting on behalf of the Chitty family’s Haunui Stud and Hilton Mackley.

Full of Spirit is by Arrowfield Stud champion Flying Spur from Lindsay Park filly Imposingly who only got as far as a Gawler maiden win in September 2006.  Second dam Quiz Queen (Defensive Play) is a half-sister to G1 winners St Reims and Champagne.