Te Rapa, G2 Cal Isuzu S., NZ$100,000, 1600m
Race summary:
A return to home soil worked wonders for The Real Beel (NZ) (Savabeel), who scored a valuable victory in the fillies and mares’ feature.
Eleven months have passed since The Real Beel burst on the scene with a close second placing at triple-figure odds in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie, beating many of New Zealand’s best 3-year-olds including dual Group 1 winner Madison County (NZ) (Pins).
Since then she has been sold to Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick, served by young Waikato Stud stallion Tivaci, and sent to Victoria for a fruitless four-start spring campaign.
The familiar surroundings of Jim Pender’s Tauranga stable appear to have made a world of difference.
In her first start back in New Zealand, The Real Beel exploded out of midfield for a superb short-neck victory over Guillada (NZ) (Guillotine), Pinmedown (NZ) (Pins), Yearn (NZ) (Savabeel) and Queen of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel).
The Cal Isuzu S. was The Real Beel’s second win from 17 starts. Being in foal, she is nearing the end of her career, but her value as a broodmare is now assured.
Pedigree notes:
The Real Beel is by Waikato Stud supremo Savabeel, who is now the sire of 637 winners from 894 runners. He is rapidly closing in on a milestone, with 94 individual black-type winners to his name.
Waikato Stud bred The Real Beel and sold her at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for $110,000. Now she is back in their distinctive white, emerald green and blue colours.
The dam of The Real Beel is Ahna (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who is the dam of two winners from two foals to race, and both have been black-type performers. Safeer (NZ) (Savabeel) has won five races and placed in the Listed Raffles Cup in Singapore.
The Real Beel descends from an exceptional family. Her third dam is Marquise (NZ) (Gold and Ivory {USA}), a Group 1-winning daughter of one of New Zealand’s greatest-ever broodmares in Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces of Eight {Ire}).
Group 1 winners either out of Eight Carat or descending from this line include Octagonal (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Diamond Lover (Sticks and Stones), Kaapstad (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Mouawad (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Don Eduardo (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Danewin (Danehill {USA}), Shower of Roses (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Emerald Dream (NZ) (Danehill {USA}), Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor), Hiyaam (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).
The Real Beel’s dam Ahna is a half-sister to Ocean Jewel (Ocean Park {NZ}), who has been a Listed winner in Perth. Another half-sister, the unraced Captivating Claire (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), is the dam of G3 Gimcrack S. and Blue Diamond Preview winner Catch Me (I Am Invincible).
Ahna has made multiple return visits to Savabeel in recent seasons, producing a colt in 2017 and a filly in 2018.
Te Rapa, G3, Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup, NZ$100,000, 2400m
Race summary:
Justamaiz (NZ) (Guillotine {NZ}) provided a home track victory for trainer David Greene with a front-running display that left no excuses for the beaten brigade.
The grey was well-rated by rider Samantha Spratt and the race was over when the pair kicked clear 350 metres from home.
The lightly-tried Masetto (NZ) (Cape Blanco {Ire}) gave a good account of himself to claim second ahead of Dezella (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).
Pedigree notes:
Justamaiz is a half-brother the G3 Eclipse S. winner Zabisco (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and they are two of six winners produced by Arthena (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}).
The dam is a half-sister to the multiple winner and Group performer Anden (NZ) (Magic Of Sydney) and to the dam of the two-time G1 Toorak H. winner Solzhenitsyn (NZ) (St Petersburg).
The G3 Gosford Gold Cup winner Darbass (Cossack Warrior) and the Listed Zeditave S. winner Bundle O’Gold (Devaraja {NZ}) are also members of this family.
Te Rapa, G3 J Swap Contractors Sprint, NZ$70,000 1400m
Race summary:
Jason Waddell had the favourite Julius (NZ) (Swiss Ace) quickly into stride and gave him a sweet run near the pace.
They peeled out three wide at the top of the straight and the 8-year-old finished determinedly for the eighth win of his career, which has been restricted to 15 starts due to injury.
Donna Anne Billy (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) made the running she stuck on gallantly for second ahead of Tinkalicious (NZ) (Nadeem), who challenged 250 metres out.
Pedigree notes:
A NZ$44,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale graduate, Julius is a half-brother to the G3 Bonecrusher S. runner-up Burnt Orange (NZ) (Mossman), who was also a multiple winner in Hong Kong as Happy Journey.
Their dam Oh So Royal (Danzero), also the dam of the G1 Spring Champion S. placegetter Battenburg (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), is a half-sister to the G2 Shannon S. winner Vashka (Exceed And Excel).
It’s also the family of the stakes winner Renewal (Dream Ahead {USA}).
Awapuni, Lawnmaster G3 Eulogy S., NZ$70,000, 1600m
Race summary:
Sir Peter Vela’s blue and white hoops are among the most famous colours in New Zealand racing, and on Saturday they were carried by another new black-type performer.
The last three decades have seen countless big-race successes for Sir Peter and his late brother Philip Vela, headed by the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double in 2001 by superstar staying mare Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}).
On Saturday the promising filly Lilikoi (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) joined the Pencarrow Stud honour roll, winning the Eulogy S. in her first attempt at stakes level.
Ridden by Rosie Myers for trainer Jamie Richards, Lilikoi sat in fourth place before taking control in the straight. She changed gears and bounded to the lead, racing clear to win by 1.75l.
Front-runner Manchu (Redoute’s Choice) held on for second, with Showbeel (NZ) (Savabeel) making up plenty of ground from second-last to finish third.
From six career starts, Lilikoi has now won two races and placed in another two.
Pedigree notes:
Lilikoi is by the Windsor Park shuttle stallion Charm Spirit (Ire), who was New Zealand’s leading first season sire in 2019-20.
Charm Spirit has sired 96 winners from 190 runners, with six individual stakes winners. His 19 winners in the southern hemisphere include four at Group level – Aretha (NZ), Fascino (NZ), Scorpz (NZ) and Lilikoi.
The dam of Lilikoi is Barbadine (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), who won three races in Ireland and New Zealand.
Barbadine is a half-sister to the G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Molecomb S. winner Requinto (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and the multiple stakes placegetter Independence Day (Ire) (Dansili {GB}).
Another half-sibling is Compelling (Ire) (Kingmambo {USA}), who is the dam of Last Kingdom (USA) (Frankel {GB}), a Group 3 winner in France.
Lilikoi’s granddam is Damson (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}), who won four of her five starts including the G1 Phoenix S., G2 Queen Mary S. and Listed Swordlestown Stud Sprint. Her only defeat was a third placing in the G1 Cheveley Park S.
Fourth dam Tremogia (Fr) (Silver Shark {Ire}) is the dam, granddam or great granddam of 32 individual Group winners.
Lilikoi is one of Barbadine’s three winners from four foals to race. The mare produced another Charm Spirit filly in 2017 and had a colt by Vadamos (Fr) last year, who will be sold during Book 1 of the New Zealand National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
