Riccarton, G1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas, NZ$300,000, 1600m
Race summary
In a slowly-run contest, Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) raced in midfield before rider Opie Bosson was able to angle the filly into the clear on straightening.
The Jamie Richards-trained 3-year-old let down strongly to win for the second time in her four-start career.
Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) got well out of her ground and finished at a rate of knots to take second off the winner’s stablemate Cornflower Blue (NZ) (Savabeel) with the well-supported Tinker McPhee (Nostradamus) a game fourth.
Pedigree notes
Kahma Lass was bred by Greg Tomlinson’s Nearco Stud and is the 11th individual Group 1 winner sired by The Oaks Stud stalwart Darci Brahma, himself a multiple top-flight winner.
His latest success story Kahma Lass was offered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by Curraghmore and bought on behalf of Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay for NZ$290,000 with Te Akau’s David Ellis signing the ticket.
She is a sister to the Singapore stakes winner Distinctive Darci (NZ) and a half-sister to the multiple black-type winner Kuro (Denman). Further back in the pedigree is the dual Group 1 winner Bomber Bill (Air De France), whose sister Camargue won the G3 Thoroughbred Club S.
Riccarton, G3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, NZ$250,000, 3200m
Race summary
Dragon Storm (NZ) (Shocking) was given a light build-up for the two miles and the conditioning skills of trainer Chris Gibbs were rewarded in a driving finish.
The 6-year-old, who was given three preparatory runs to fit him for the 3200 metres, was given plenty of time to find his feet before he was stoked up by rider Craig Grylls.
Dragon Storm finished relentlessly in the run home to get the better of Lincoln King (NZ) (Shocking) and Hurry Cane (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu {NZ}) was a game third.
Pedigree notes
This was a great result for Rich Hill Stud’s G1 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking with his sons fighting out the finish and Dragon Storm his ninth individual Group winner.
The gelding is bred for endurance racing as his dam Prize Lady (NZ) (Prized {USA}) won two editions of the G1 Auckland Cup.
Her dam Pen Bal Lady (GB) (Mummy’s Game {GB}) was also a top-class mare who won three times at the elite level in North America.
Riccarton, Listed Frantic Bloodstock Welcome S., NZ$ , 1000m
Race summary
Avonallo (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) had to play second fiddle to Follow Your Dreams (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) at their previous two meeting and got one back here.
The Jamie Richards-trained colt sat in second place to the turn and asserted his authority in the closing 150 metres for a comfortable first victory.
Follow Your Dreams made the pace, but this time had no answer to the winner’s finishing run and Global Beauty (NZ) (Highly Recommended) got home late for fourth.
Pedigree notes
This is the first Australasian winner for Haunui Farm’s shuttle stallion Belardo, whose first Northern Hemisphere crop is headed by the G2 Newmarket Rockfel S. winner Isabella Giles (Ire).
Avonallo was purchased by Chris Rutten for NZ$30,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale with breeder and seller Little Avondale Stud also remaining in the ownership.
He is a son of the unraced O’Reilly (NZ) mare Real Angel (NZ), a half-sister to the dual stakes winner Marquardt (Shamardal {USA}) and the family of the multiple Group 1 winners Dandy Andy (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}) and Ballroom Babe (NZ) (Citidancer {USA}).
Tauranga, G2 Gartshore Tauranga S., NZ$100,000, 1600m
Race summary
Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel) was sent out favourite off the back of her previous G3 Thompson H. success and she was too good again.
She settled off the pace before rider Vinnie Colgan set her alight across the top and she came down the outside with a timely finish to win with authority.
Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) did well to take second after missing the jump and settling at the tail of the field and Siracusa (NZ) (Sebring) also came from well back to finish third.
Pedigree notes
Now a four-time Group 3 winner, Concert Hall is raced by her breeder and is a daughter of Waikato Stud’s multiple champion sire Savabeel, who boasts a 10.7 per cent strike rate of black type winners to runners.
Concert Hall is the only winner to date for Classic Legacy (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}), who was successful on four occasions.
She is a half-sister to the South Australian Oaks winner Lee’s Bid (Tawfiq {USA}), who produced the dual Group 1 winner and sire Arena, and to the dam of Tartan Tights (NZ) (Tights {USA}), also a dual winner at the highest level.
Ascot, G3 WA Champion Fillies’ S., $200,000, 1600m
Race summary
Watch Me Dance (I’m All The Talk) scored her second stakes victory in a thrilling finish here.
The 3-year-old filly settled just behind the speed in the run before peeling out at the top of the straight and going toe to toe with Indigo Blue (Blackfriars) before getting the bob on the line to win by 0.1l in a photo finish.
Brave Angel (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) stormed home late to score third by another 0.2l.
Pedigree notes
Watch Me Dance was bred by Mungrup Stud and was purchased by Commercial Bloodstock Services for $34,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
She is the first winner for Coventry To Rio (Oratorio), who is out of a half-sister to the G3 Up And Coming S. winner West End (Zephyr Bay).
Watch Me Dance’s 2-year-old sister Hear Me Sing has already placed while she has a yearling half-brother by A Lot (USA) and a foal half-sister by Playing God.
Watch Me Dance is the only stakes winner for Darling View Thoroughbreds second-season sire I’m All The Talk, who is responsible for eight winners so far.
Ascot, G3 RJ Peters S., $150,000, 1500m
Race summary
Truly Great (Dundeel {NZ}) justified his short-priced favouritism as he produced a dominant performance to score his first stakes victory here.
Trained by Grant and Alana Williams and owned by Bob Peters, the 5-year-old gelding settled towards the tail of the field and tracked up around the bend before scooting past his rivals to go on and win by 1.4l with the minimum of fuss.
Flow (Street Cry {Ire}) held on for second with Moschard (Moshe) another 1.5l away in third.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Bob Peters, Truly Great is the fourth foal to race and win out of winning-mare Truly Special (Jeune {GB}).
Truly Special is also responsible for G3 Western Australian Oaks winner Special Alert (Not A Single Doubt) and is a sister to Group 3 placegetter Jeune’s Reign. Further back, this is also the family of G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Danaides (Rory’s Jester).
Truly Special has an unraced 2-year-old sister to Truly Great and was again served by Dundeel (NZ) in 2019.
Truly Great becomes the 13th individual stakes winner for Arrowfield sire Dundeel.
