Cover image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
G1 NZ 1000 Guineas, NZ$300,000, 1600m
It was an exciting three-horse battle to the line in this Classic with The Perfect Pink (NZ) (Savabeel) getting the upper-hand close to home.
A homebred for her owners , the Dennis family and T.V. Rider, The Perfect Pink is the 119th stakes winner for Waikato Stud’s star Savabeel. Her dam is the durable The Solitaire (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), winner of 10 races including three at Listed level.
Served last spring by Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park), The Solitaire is a half-sister to another prolific winner in Deer field (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}), a Listed winner of 11 races.
The Perfect Pink – as her name suggests – hails from one of New Zealand’s most prolific families, one which has produced the high-class gallopers The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}), Irish Chance (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), The Dimple (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}), The Phantom (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}), The Phantom Chance (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}) and The Twinkle (NZ) (Gate Keeper {GB}).
Bred on a 3 X 5 cross of Sir Tristram (Ire), The Perfect Pink also carries two strains of the great sprinter Todman (Star Kingdom {Ire}) plus one of his full brother Noholme II (Star Kingdom {Ire}).
G3 New Zealand Cup., NZ$250,000, 3200m
It was an exciting barnstorming victory recorded by Mondorani (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) who came with a withering run right down the outside of the field.
The sixth stakes winner for his late sire, Mondorani is a homebred for the Murdoch family. He is the first foal for the imported winner Del Mondo (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}) whose grandam is the high class local mare Arborea (Imperial Prince {Ire}) – winner of eight races including the G1 VRC Oaks and the G1 Thousand Guineas.
She did a great job at stud with her eight winners including the Australian-bred US Group 2 winner Delta Form (Marscay) whilst her descendants include the stakes winners Szumul (USA) (Showing Up {USA}), Tai Tai Tess (Magic Albert), High Seas Beauty (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Drumbeats (Redoute’s Choice).
Mondorani is line-bred to the outstanding mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}).
Del Mondo was not served last spring having produced a Tarzino colt in late November.
Listed Welcome S., NZ$60,000, 1000m
Odds-on and never in any doubt, Grace’s Secret (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) was already a couple of lengths in front of her rivals early in the straight, maintaining a healthy margin all the way home – despite not really looking to relish the rain affected conditions.
A homebred for the Clayview Farm Partnership, Grace’s Secret is the second stakes winner for Rich Hill Stud’s G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp winner Vadamos (Fr). Her dam is the Perth winner Fermentation (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), full sister to the G3 Strickland S. winner Kincaple (NZ).
Not served last spring, Fermentation is also dam of a yet to be named Tivaci colt.
Grace’s Secret is bred on a 7 X 6 cross of the outstanding broodmare Relance (Fr) (Relic {USA}).
G2 Tauranga S., NZ$110,000, 1600m
Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) joined the lead with 250 metres and away he went, his first success at Group level an easy one.
Already a Listed winner and one of his late sire’s 20 stakes winners, he is a homebred for S.A Sharrock out of the unraced mare Often (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) whose dam is the G3 NZ St Leger winner Freequent (NZ) (Mistral Dancer {Can}) – also grandam of the G1 Challenge S. winner I Do (NZ) (also by No Excuse Needed {GB}) and the Listed Queensland Cup winner Iggi Pop (NZ) (Savabeel).
Boasting strains of the close relations Northern Dancer (Can) (Nearctic {Can}), Halo (USA) (Hail To Reason {USA}) and Machiavellian (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}), Justaskme is a descendant of the influential Winning Flight (NZ) (Winning Hit {NZ}), ancestress of so many great New Zealand bred horses including So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
