Ellerslie, R. Listed Doubletree By Hilton Karaka Million 2YO, NZ$1,000,000, 1200m
Race summary
On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) was Jamie Richards’ pre-race pick of his five runners and the Te Akau Head Trainer’s judgment was right on the money.
The gelding was caught wide early from the outside gate before rider Johnathan Parkes pressed forward into fourth spot and he peeled out three wide near the turn.
On The Bubbles assumed control soon after and had no trouble holding the challenges of his stablemates Sneaky Shark (Capitalist), Avonalla (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) and Sophisticardo (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) at bay.
Pedigree notes
On The Bubbles was originally bought at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale by Ben Kwok and Bevan Smith Bloodstock for $60,000 and then re-offered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Yearling Sale by Leanach Lodge and bought by Te Akau’s David Ellis for NZ$90,000.
He is a son of the Sebring mare More Bubbles who is a half-sister to the G1 Myer Classic winner Politeness (Street Sense {USA}) and also the family of the Group 2 winners Thackeray (At Talaq {USA}) and Parables (Lonhro).
On The Bubbles’ sire Brazen Beau has produced 10 individual black-type winners led by the dual Group 2 winner Pretty Brazen.
Ellerslie, R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic, NZ$1,000,000, 1600m
Race summary
This race was billed as a two-horse war between Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and the filly Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) and so it proved with the former prevailing.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Aegon hadn’t raced since he won the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas in November, but paraded a treat and raced accordingly.
He settled in the body of the field under Leith Innes and unwound powerfully to get the better of Amarelinha with Montre Moi (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) producing an eye-catching finish for third.
Pedigree notes
Aegon is raced by Forsman with the Zame Partnership after the former went to NZ$150,000 to secure him out of Waikato Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft.
He is a out of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Toss Up (NZ), whose four foals to race have all been successful, and she is out of a half-sister to the G1 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce S. winner Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}).
The pedigree also features Waikato Stud’s three-time Group 1 winner Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) and the G2 Sweet Embrace S. winner Believe Yourself (Sebring). Aegon is the best-performed runner to date for his late sire Sacred Falls (NZ).
Ellerslie, G2 Westbury Classic, NZ$100,000, 1400m
Race summary
Levante (NZ) (Proisir) was a touch tardily away, as is her custom, and she settled at the back of the field and still had every runner in front of her at the top of the straight.
However, rider Sam Collett angled her widest on the turn the mare cut loose and mowed down her rivals for an impressive victory.
The longshot Our Alley Cat (NZ) (Atlante) looked set to provide a major boil-over when she sprinted clear halfway down the straight, but had no answer to the winner’s paralysing finish and Familia (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) was a sound third.
Pedigree notes
Levante is now the best-performed representative of Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir, who has previously sired Group 3 winners Riodini (NZ), Aimee’s Jewel (NZ) and Vitesse Bro (NZ).
She is a half-sister to five winners, including stakes performer Miss Isle (NZ) (Bachelor Duke {USA}), whose Derryn filly will be sold by Grangewilliam Stud as Lot 894 during Book 2 at Karaka next week.
They are out of Island Doy (GB) (Doyoun {Ire}) and she is a half-sister to the G3 Courier-Mail Classic winner Cryptavia (NZ) (Gold Brose). There is also a strong international element to this family, which includes the G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner and sire Bering (GB).
Ellerslie, G3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy, NZ$70,000, 1200m
Race summary
A mile found Need I Say More (No Nay Never {USA}) out when sixth in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and back to a sprint trip he was in his element.
Despite having to lump 60.5kg, he let down strongly from sixth spot near the turn to win for the fifth time in his seven-start career.
Explosively (NZ) (Sweynesse), who was in receipt of 3kg, came home well from the back to cut the frontrunner Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) out of second money.
Pedigree notes
Need I Say More was bred and sold by Burnewang North at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale for $65,000 to Kilgravin Lodge.
Eion Kemp’s operation then offered him at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale where David Ellis secured him for NZ$130,000. He is out of Bo Bardi (Fastnet Rock), a mare from an international family that features the G1 Del Mark Oaks winner Rutherienne (USA) (Pulpit {USA}).
Need I Say More is the best-performed Southern Hemisphere son of No Nay Never following an earlier success in the G2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial.
Ellerslie, G3 Brighthill Farm Concorde H., NZ$70,000, 1200m
Race summary
Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was set the stiffest task off the back of three previous wins from four appearances and she rose to the task in style.
The mare was given a cosy run in the trail by Danielle Johnson and they were in the clear 250 metres from home and quickly put her rivals to the sword.
They sailed clear to score by 1.3l from Justacanta (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Pretty To Sea (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) boxed on strongly to take third money.
Pedigree notes
Bred by respected trainer Kevin Gray and his wife Kathleen, Entriviere is a sister to multiple winner Granite Ridge (NZ) and a half-sister to Satin Belt (NZ) (Power {GB}), successful three times and a black-type placegetter.
The dam Marcey’s Belt (NZ) (Golan {Ire}) is a half-sister to the R. Listed Karaka Million winner Xiong Feng (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and the G2 Light Fingers S. winner Adrift (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
They are out of the unraced Stray (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and she is a half-sister to the G1 Cox Plate winner Maldivian (NZ) (Zabeel).
Gore, Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas, NZ$50,000, 1335m
Race summary
Showemhowitsdone (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) was wayward in the straight, but she still managed to get her nose down at the right time to earn black-type honours.
The Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong-trained filly came with a strong run from back in the field and, despite veering out under pressure, landed the 3-year-old feature from the well-supported The Gift (NZ) (Power {GB}).
The favourite Chokito (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) rolled along in front and was run down close to home to finish third with the northern visitor Grand Gesture (NZ) (El roca) rushing home for fourth.
Pedigree notes
Showcasing (GB) has now produced 25 individual stakes winners with the Group 2 winners Showoroses (NZ) among the best Southern Hemisphere performers he sired during his shuttle runs days to Haunui Farm.
Showemhowitsdone is the only runners to date for Jaffari (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), who is out of a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. winner Captivate (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
The G1 Otaki Maori WFA S. winner Culminate (NZ) (Elnadim {USA}), who was also runner-up in the G1 Coolmore Classic, is another feature name in the pedigree.
Randwick, Listed Fujitsu General Carrington S., $150,000, 1400m
Race summary
Bandersnatch (Casino Prince) continued his top run of form this preparation with the second win of his campaign.
The Team Hawkes-trained 4-year-old coasted along in third place on the fence and rider Tommy Berry had him out into the clear in planet of time.
They strode to the front 200 metres from home and defied the game Quackerjack (Not A Single Doubt) and Thy Kingdom Come (Lope De Vega {Ire}) made steady ground for third.
Pedigree notes
Bandersnatch has proved to be a good money-spinner as he was originally bought by his former trainer Gerald Ryan for $42,000 out of Amarina Farm’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
He is a son of the unraced Falbrav {Ire}) mare Divine Faith and she is a half-sister to Arrowsweep (End Sweep {USA}), who won five races and was stakes-placed.
Their dam is a half-sister to the G3 Royal Ascot Jersey S. winner Merlin’s Charm (USA) (Bold Bidder {USA}) and Bandersnatch has become the 20th individual black-type winner for Vinery Stud’s Casino Prince.
