Te Rapa, G2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial, NZ$100,000, 1400m
Race summary
Need I Say More (No Nay Never {USA}) lost his unbeaten record when beaten from a wide barrier into fourth in the G3 Hawke’s Bay Guineas and bounced back in emphatic fashion.
He was quickly out of the barrier to lead and, after dashing 4l clear with 250 metres to run, was never in any danger of being caught.
Bourbonaire (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) came on well to finish runner-up and the filly Tinker McPhee (Nostradamus) went back to last from an outside gate and made ground strongly for third.
Pedigree notes
Need I Say More is the first foal of Bo Bardi (Fastnet Rock) and she is a daughter of the North American stakes winner Our Golden Dream (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
She is a three-quarter sister to the dual Listed winner Icabad Crane (USA) (Jump Start {USA}) and the family of the G1 Del Mar Oaks winner Rutherienne (USA) (Pulpit {USA}).
Need I Say More was a $65,000 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale buy for Kilgravin Lodge who then sold him to Te Akau for NZ$130,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
Te Rapa, G3 Waikato Stud Soliloquy S., NZ$70,000, 1400m
Race summary
De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) won three times last season and was Group placed and she’s quickly added to that record at three.
She was sent straight to the front by rider Ryan Elliot and after kicking clear 250 metres from home she just had enough in reserve to post a narrow victory.
Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) made a late lunge to miss by the barest of margins and Tokorangi (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) came from well back in the running to take third.
Pedigree notes
De La Terre was purchased out of Westbury Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale consignment for NZ$55,000 by co-trainer Graeme Rogerson.
The filly is a sister to the Group 1 performer Aalaalune (NZ) and they are out of the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Veva Girl.
A stand-out name in the pedigree is the G2 TAB S. winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}) while G2 Roman Consul S. winner Viridine (Poet’s Voice {GB}) is also a member of this family.
Riccarton, G3 War Decree S., NZ$80,000, 1600m
Race summary
Vitesse Bo (NZ) (Proisir) upstaged the colts and gelding when she produced a determined finish in the closing 200 metres for the first win of her career.
The filly headed south off the back of a runner-up finish in a Te Rapa maiden and under the urgings of Terry Moseley was able to go one better.
The well-supported pair of Marine (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), who enjoyed a good run in the trail, and Unition (Fastnet Rock), who made the running, were the next pair home.
Pedigree notes
Vitesse Bo is a daughter of Cissy Bowen (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}), who was a capable mare and a five-time winner.
She has found her niche in the broodmare role with her first foal The Great Southern (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) a winner and also placed at Group 2 and 3 level, but there was better to follow.
The mare’s third foal is last season’s G1 Levin Classic and G3 Soliloquy S. winner Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca), who also finished third in the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas.
Riccarton, Listed Christchurch Casino Spring Classic, NZ$50,000, 2000m
Race summary
William Wallace (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) has a liking for the roomy Riccarton circuit and the sprightly 8-year-old showed that again.
He settled last in the running and when rider Sarah McNab urged him forward the gelding circled the field to be in front at the top of the straight.
The gelding stayed on strongly to see off the late challenge of Comminique (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) and the topweight Who Dares Wins (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) was a brave third.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Sir Peter and the late Phillip Vela, William Wallace was purchased by trainer Adrian Bull for NZ$40,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale where he was offered by Kilgravin Lodge.
He is a son of Huluava (NZ) (Pins), who was successful on three occasions and is a half-sister to the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. winner Vercors (NZ) (Catbird).
They are out of a half-sister to the G1 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce S. winner and G1 Sydney Cup runner-up Lord Ted (NZ) (Lord Ballina).
