Cover image by Peter Rubery courtesy of Race Images
Trentham, G1 Al Basti Dubai Equiworld New Zealand Oaks, NZ$400,000, 2400m
Race summary
Opie Bosson had to go to Plan B with Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) after she jumped in the air at barrier rise and settled further back than planned.
She raced one off the fence in midfield before Bosson improved 600 metres from home and the star filly bounded to the front 400 metres from home.
The Jamie Richards-trained representative was determined to the line to comfortably account for Charm Star (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) with Llanacord (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) third ahead of Cheaperthandivorce (NZ) (Savabeel).
Pedigree notes
Amarelinha was bred by Waikato Stud and sold at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale where she was purchased by Te Akau’s David Ellis for NZ$300,000.
She is by the multiple champion New Zealand sire Savabeel, who has now produced 22 individual Group 1 winners.
Amarelinha is out of the unraced Hopscotch (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Metal Bender (NZ) (Danasinga) and to the dams of stakes winners Missybeel (NZ) (Savabeel) and North Pacific (Brazen Beau).
Amarelinha is the first named foal out of Hopscotch, who has subsequently produced fillies by Savabeel in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Trentham, G2 Fusion Electrical Wellington Guineas, NZ$100,000, 1400m
Race summary
Need I Say More (No Nay Never {USA}) drew an awkward gate and was forced to spend early petrol to sit on the leader’s quarters.
He challenged early in the run home to take control and had enough in reserve to win for the seventh time from nine appearances.
Bonham (Per Incanto {USA}) settled at the tail of the field and she powered home wide for second with the winner’s stablemate Cornflower Blue (NZ) (Savabeel) also making good ground for third.
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.
Principal Eion Kemp 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 leading Southern Hemisphere representative of Coolmore’s No Nay Never (USA) following earlier successes in the G2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial, three Group 3 wins and a Listed victory.
Trentham, G3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle S., NZ$70,000, 1600m
Race summary
Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) continued her purple patch of form to set up a crack at the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.
The Robbie Patterson-trained mare settled behind the leading pack on the fence and rider Samantha Collett was able to angle into the clear 250 metres from home.
The 5-year-old lengthened stride impressively to account for Jessigee (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) and the front-runner Mohaka (NZ) (Nadeem) fought on gallantly for third.
Pedigree notes
Coventina Bay is one of five individual black type winners for Shamexpress (NZ) and the second at Group 3 level following Embrace Me’s (NZ) Typhoon Tracy S. success.
Bred by EVB Ltd and offered by Windsor Park Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale where she failed to meet her NZ$20,000 reserve, Coventina Bay is a daughter of the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Coventina (NZ), who won three races.
The third dam is the dual Group 1 winner Nimue (NZ) (Star Way {GB}) and she is a sister to the G1 Wellington Cup winner Smiling Like (NZ) and to the dual Group 3 winner Eurostar (NZ). Their half-sister Sirstaci (NZ) (Silver Dream {GB}) won the G1 Easter H.
Trentham, Listed Fasttrack New Zealand St Leger, NZ$55,000, 2600m
Race summary
A mid-race move by apprentice Hazel Schofer paved the way for Waisake (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) to continue his winning form.
Successful in the G3 Wellington Cup in January, Waisake was caught wide in the running before Schofer made a move down the back straight to sit outside the leader.
They were in front at the top of the straight and the big, black stayer proved too strong for Skyphyta (NZ) (Pierro) and Beaudz Well (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).
Pedigree notes
Waisake was bought by trainer Allan Sharrock for NZ$28,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale where he was offered by Ainsley Downs.
He is a half-brother to the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup winner Monachee (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and they are out of Kincia (NZ) (Kinjite {NZ}), a half-sister to Group 3 performer Oaks Dream (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}).
It is also the family of the Listed Carbine Club S. winner Wage Freeze (NZ) (Sound Reason {Can}) with Waisake’s sire Zed (NZ) the producer of 14 individual black-type winners headed by star multiple Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant (NZ).
Trentham, Listed Hardy Trade Company Lightning H., NZ$50,000, 1200m
Race summary
Grand Mayson (NZ) (Power {GB}) capped off consecutive runner-up finishes with a career-best performance.
The strapping chestnut settled toward the back of the field and rider Lisa Allpress picked runs between runners to get in the deciding stride.
Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) did well in just his sixth appearance to get home well for second and the well-supported Puysegur (Fastnet Rock) took third ahead of Romantic Lady (NZ) (Power {GB}).
Pedigree notes
Grand Mayson was bred by EE Yule & Co and offered by them at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Festival Sale at Karaka.
He was secured by agent Phill Cataldo for NZ$60,000 on behalf of owner Jen Campin Bloodstock and is a son of Java Silk (NZ) (Kashani {USA}), a half-sister to Group 2 performer Java Spice (Scenic {Ire}) with multiple Group 1 winner and Widden Stud sire Nicconi further back in the pedigree.
Grand Mayson is a son of Power (GB), who stood at Cambridge Stud and is now resident at Oaklands Stud. He is the 16th individual stakes winner for the sire, whose leading Southern Hemisphere representative is the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. winner Gift Of Power (NZ).
