Riccarton Park, G1 Al Basti Equiworld 47th New Zealand 2000 Guineas, 1600m, $500,000
Race Summary:
After showing only average speed out of the gates, Catalyst and jockey Troy Harris found themselves stuck midfield next to the running rail, with every other rider keen to keep them there. Rounding the home turn, a bump knocked him off balance.
But Harris found a way out into clear running, and Catalyst took care of the rest. He changed gears and stretched out like a special 3-year-old, opening up a winning margin of 2.25l.
Catalyst, who won’t actually turn 3-years-old until next Saturday, has now had six starts for five wins and NZ$434,350 in prizemoney. Four of his victories have been at black type level.
This was the first Group 1 victory for former jumps jockey Clayton Chipperfield, who trains Catalyst for owner-breeder Dick Karreman of The Oaks Stud. Karreman was on course to lead his new star back into the winners’ circle.
Last-start G2 Sarten Memorial winner Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) made up good ground late in the race to finish second, with G3 War Decree S. winner Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock) third.
Pedigree Notes:
In contrast to his blue-blooded sire Dari Brahma, another winner of this race, Catalyst was retained to race by Dick Karreman because he was not expected to attract major interest at a yearling sale.
His dam Evana (NZ) (Entrepreneur {GB}) won three races and is out of Miss Trump (Last Tycoon {Ire}), a half-sister to the champion racehorse and sire Lonhro, multiple Group 1 winner Niello (Octagonal {NZ}) and stakes winner Shannara (Octagonal {NZ}).
Evana was one of two winners for Miss Trump, who also produced the Group 3 winner Diamond Deck (NZ) (Octagonal {NZ}). Also a multiple stakes placegetter in Queensland, Diamond Deck later produced the Group 2 performer All Decked Out (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
Another of Miss Trump’s daughters, Doneze Girl (NZ), is the dam of Group 1 winner Devise (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and the G2 Let’s Elope S. winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Zurella (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Evana is the dam of six winners from eight foals to race. Catalyst is the clear headline act, while Stratana (Stratum) won five races and placed in the Listed ATC June S., Scone Quality H. and Razor Sharp H. Evana returned to Darci Brahma and produced a filly in the spring of 2018, and she was subsequently served by Tivaci.
As well as celebrating 2000 Guineas glory as breeder and owner of the super-impressive Catalyst, The Oaks Stud also bred the fast-finishing runner-up Harlech.
Riccarton Park, Listed Redwood Metropolitan Trophy, 2500m, $75,000
Race Summary:
Awapuni trainer Ashley Meadows celebrated his first stakes win as Duplicity (NZ) (Duporth), the runner-up in last year’s G3 New Zealand Cup, warmed up for this year’s edition with a hard-fought Listed victory.
The 7-year-old gelding sounded a warning to potential Cup rivals when he flashed home for second in the Listed Feilding Gold Cup at his home track last weekend, and on Saturday he raised his game again.
Ridden by Rosie Myers, Duplicity was handily positioned throughout the 2500 metre contest, one off the rail and just behind the leading pair of Chief Sequoyah (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) and Al Haram (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}).
The race came alive at the 600 metre mark as last year’s winner Dee and Gee (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) made the first move, swooping around the field from second-last and drawing up alongside the leaders.
But Duplicity quickened and went with her, with Soleseifei (NZ) (Shocking) mounting a run along the inside from the second half of the field and Nymph Monte (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) running on wider out.
It developed into an exciting four-horse war to the finish, with Duplicity digging deep and reaching for the finish line to win by a half-head.
Dee and Gee came up just short in her title defence, finishing second, while Soleseifei was the same margin away in third. Nymph Monte was fourth, another half-neck behind the first three.
Duplicity has now had 32 starts for six wins, eight placings and NZ$224,662 in stakes for owner Paul Connor.
Meadows, who has won a total of 31 races in his nine-year training career, bought Duplicity for NZ$27,500 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale.
Pedigree Notes:
Duplicity was bred by Richard and Liz Wood’s Chouxmaani Investments Ltd, best known for their multiple Group 1 winner and sire Jimmy Choux (NZ).
Duplicity is by the G1 BTC Cup winner Duporth, who stands for a fee of $8800 at Kooringal Stud. He has sired 176 winners from 249 runners, with Duplicity becoming his sixth individual stakes winner.
That list is headed by the G1 Manikato S. and Australian Guineas winner Hey Doc, while Valiant Spirit won the G2 Autumn Classic and Dashing Fellow captured the G3 National Day Cup in Hong Kong.
Duplicity’s dam is Bidthemobgooday (Reset), a two-race winner and half-sister to Lipari (Redoute’s Choice), who is the dam of Australian Derby winner Levendi (Pierro) and stakes winners Wu Gok (Sebring) and Marcel From Madrid (Sebring).
The second dam is Tully Thunder (Thunder Gulch {USA}), who won the G1 Australasian Oaks. Bidthemobgooday is the dam of three named foals, all of whom are winners. Chouxting the Mob (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) has won seven races to date from the Simon Morrish stable, while Ginali (Duporth) has won two races.
Bidthemobgooday produced a Jimmy Choux colt in 2015 and a filly in 2016 who unfortunately died. She had a colt by Niagara in the spring of 2017.
Riccarton Park, Listed Yesberg Insurance Services Pegasus Stakes, 1000m, $50,000
Race Summary:
Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman made a red-hot start to their home-town carnival, winning four of the first six races including a sizzling sprint victory by Sensei (Dream Ahead {USA}).
Jockey Sam Weatherley settled Sensei just behind a rapid early pace set by Don Carlo (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Exemplar (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), then angled him into the clear and turned on the turbos.
The 5-year-old entire exploded in the straight, charging clear to win by 4l in a slick time of 55s – less than a second outside Riccarton’s 1000 metre track record.
Raced by Michael Pitman in partnership with long-time client Jim Bruford, Peter and Donna Doake, Pinehaven Racing Ltd, Won’t Die Wondering Breeders Ltd and eight other individuals, Sensei has now had 19 starts for six wins, eight placings and NZ$177,810 in stakes.
Michael Pitman paid $60,000 to buy Sensei at the 2016 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.
The second placegetter in the Pegasus was the lightly raced mare Sheezallmine (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}), who cost just $1000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Festival Yearling Sale. Pippi Rea (NZ) (Pins) was just behind her in third.
Pedigree Notes:
Sensei was bred by Emirates Park Pty Ltd. He is by the G1 July Cup winner Dream Ahead (USA), who stood at stud in Australia from 2012 to 2018.
Dream Ahead has sired 334 winners from 574 runners. His 26 stakes winners include three at Group 1 level – Donjuan Triumphant (Ire) in the British Champions Sprint, Al Wukair (Ire) in the Prix Jacques le Marois and Glass Slippers (GB) in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp.
In Australia and New Zealand, Dream Ahead has been represented by 130 winners from 208 runners. He has sired seven individual stakes winners in this part of the world, headed by the G2 Golden Pendant and Tristarc S. winner Shumookh and the G3 Gunsynd Classic winner Dreams Aplenty.
Sensei’s dam, Schiaparelli (Woodman {USA}), is a daughter of the three-time Group 1 winner Canny Lass (Bletchingly).
Schiaparelli was a winner herself and a is half-sister to stakes winners Causeway Lass (Giant’s Causeway) and Astute Angel (Godswalk {USA}). Group 1 performers Eckstein (I Am Invincible) and Al Jameel (NZ) (Tale of the Cat {USA}) also descend from Canny Lass.
Schiaparelli is the dam of five winners from 10 foals to race. Sensei is one of two stakes winners – the other is the G2 Queensland Guineas and G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup winner and sire Rothesay (Fastnet Rock).
Since producing Sensei in 2014, Schiaparelli’s subsequent progeny have been the placegetters Mutheera (Al Maher) and Shalfah (Fastnet Rock), and the unraced 2-year-old Artie Parelli (Artie Schiller {USA}). She produced a Hinchinbrook colt in 2018.
Te Rapa, Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint, 1200m, $50,000
Race Summary:
Last season’s G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) emerged as a leading contender for major summer sprints with a brilliant first-up performance.
The high-class filly had not won a race since the 1000 Guineas almost exactly a year ago, and had not raced since finishing fifth in the G3 Cambridge Breeders’ S. in April. But she warmed up for this assignment with a stylish trial victory at Avondale on October 29.
Ridden as usual on Saturday by Michael Coleman, Media Sensation stalked the front-running Ferrando (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous) before cruising up alongside that rival at the top of the straight.
Media Sensation quickened smartly and drew away from Ferrando, winning by 1.75l in a time of 1:09.48. Ferrando finished 5l clear of the rest of the field, headed by the third-placed On Point (NZ) (Rios {NZ}).
Trained by Peter and Dawn Williams, Media Sensation is owned by Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer’s Barneswood Farm. She has now had 10 starts for six wins, three of them at stakes level, and has earned NZ$299,565 in stakes.
Media Sensation was a NZ$425,000 purchase at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.
Pedigree Notes:
Media Sensation was bred by Linda Huddy.
Her sire is the superstar I Am Invincible, whose career totals now stand at 442 winners from 580 runners with 49 stakes winners. Media Sensation is among his nine Group 1 winners, alongside the likes of Brazen Beau, Viddora and this season’s Manikato S. heroine Loving Gaby.
Media Sensation is out of Different To (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and Captain Cook S. winner Dorabella (NZ) (Postponed {USA}).
Another half-sibling, Crusoe (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) placed in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and later earned more than S$600,000 in Singapore headed by a victory in the Singapore 4YO Mile.
The family’s links to the New Zealand 1000 and 2000 Guineas continue further back in the family. Media Sensation’s third dam is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Loudenne (NZ) (Palace Music {USA}), the dam of two stakes winners including the New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Insouciant (NZ) (Keeper).
Different To is the dam of two named foals, both winners. The other is 3-year-old Amelia’s Contraire (Hinchinbrook), who has won two races to date in Perth. After missing to Star Witness in 2017, Different To produced another I Am Invincible filly in the spring of 2018.
