Cover image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Race-Day Recap
Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) stepped up to Group 1 level and shone brightly in the Sistema Railway at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day for Te Akau Racing trainer Jamie Richards and jockey Opie Bosson.
But the celebrations were cut short just over half an hour later as Richards’ partner Danielle Johnson suffered a broken lower leg in a shocking fall that claimed the life of the super-talented Gold Watch (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
Johnson had earlier won the G2 First Global Logistics Eclipse S. aboard the undefeated filly Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci), who was promoted to first after a head-bobbing battle with Pacific Dragon (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).
The Richards-trained 3-year-old filly Self Obsession (NZ) (Shocking), who was orphaned minutes after her birth, claimed a special victory in the G2 Valachi Downs Royal S.
A last-gasp win in the G2 Skycity Auckland Guineas continued the rapid rise of talented 3-year-old Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir).
Dark Destroyer was the first leg of a Group 2 double for jockey Sam Weatherley, who later teamed up with his father Darryn to land the Rich Hill Mile with Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca).
Owner-breeders Bob and Sandra Peters and trainers Grant and Alana Williams shared yet another big-race win in Perth, this time the G2 Tabtouch Perth Cup with Midnight Blue (So You Think {NZ}).
The Gary Portelli-trained 2-year-old filly Fireburn (Rebel Dane) collected the second win of her three-start career with a stylish win on the Kensington track, while potential Blue Diamond contender Latizia (Capitalist) made a winning debut in the New Year Sprint at Flemington.
The Gold Coast-trained Golden Artie (Artie Schiller {USA}) booked his ticket to the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a bold win at Doomben.
Entriviere excels in Railway
Having already given Australian racing a taste of her talents with Group 2 success at Kembla Grange in the spring, exciting Kiwi mare Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) has taken the next step and become a Group 1 winner on home soil.
The G1 Sistema Railway S. at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day marked Entriviere’s first appearance since an unlucky fourth in The Invitation at Rosehill in late October, and it was the G2 Sheraco S. winner's first New Zealand start since early March.
Loosened COVID-19 restrictions around gatherings in Auckland brought a bumper crowd to Ellerslie for the first day of 2022, and they were treated to something special in the world’s first Group 1 race of the new year.
Entriviere (NZ) winning the G1 Railway S. at Ellerslie | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Ridden by Opie Bosson for trainer Jamie Richards, Entriviere unleashed a dazzling turn of foot from well back in the field to score a commanding 1.5l victory over second-favourite Levante (NZ) (Proisir).
It was the second-straight Railway win for Richards, Bosson and Te Akau Racing, who also teamed up to take the race 12 months ago with nine-time Group 1 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock).
“Entriviere has come back so well this time in,” Richards said on Saturday. “Opie was confident that there would be a genuine tempo up front today, so he was keen to ride her back. That’s probably the best way to ride her, because she can tend to overdo things a little bit when she’s left exposed too early.
“When Opie asked her to quicken in the straight, she really exploded and won like the quality horse we know she is.
“When Opie (Bosson) asked her (Entiviere) to quicken in the straight, she really exploded and won like the quality horse we know she is.” - Jamie Richards
“It was a little bit tricky to get a saddle on her out the back before the race, so I was briefly a bit worried that I’d left her a run short for this. But it’s a big thrill to see her produce a performance like that – especially with Dad (Paul Richards) and the whole team here together today, after having to spend an extended period over in Australia through the spring. This is very special.”
Entriviere is now likely to target the G1 Telegraph at Trentham on January 15, followed by the G1 Waikato Sprint at Te Rapa on February 12. Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis suggested a return to Sydney for the autumn carnival could be a possibility further down the track.
A shining star in a talented family
Now the winner of seven of her 11 starts, Entriviere has become a headline act among five winners from six foals to race for her dam Marcey’s Belt (NZ) (Golan {Ire}).
Marcey’s Belt was owned and trained by respected Kiwi horseman Kevin Gray and his wife Kathleen, and she won three races in a 21-start career between 2008 and 2010. Since then the Grays have bred all of the mare’s foals, with standout performer Entriviere backed up by the Listed-placed Satin Belt (NZ) (Power {GB}).
Entriviere (NZ) and connections after winning the G1 Railway S. at Ellerslie | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Marcey’s Belt is a half-sister to the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO winner Xiong Feng (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), and she also comes from the family of Cox Plate hero Maldivian (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
A half-sister to Entriviere will be offered by Prima Park at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka in early March. The filly by Burgundy (NZ) is catalogued as Lot 400.
Johnson injured in tragic fall
Only 40 minutes after Entriviere’s Railway triumph, a heartbreaking fall in the G2 Rich Hill Mile cast a long shadow over the star-studded raceday at Ellerslie.
Rising star Gold Watch (NZ) (Swiss Ace) had attracted a cult following on both sides of the Tasman, partially through his highly impressive six-race winning streak, but also because of his remarkable 90-year-old owner-trainer Cliff Goss.
Gold Watch (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
The fairytale story came to the worst possible end on Saturday with Gold Watch suffering a catastrophic leg injury in the home straight and having to be humanely euthanised. The 5-year-old had shown immense potential in a racing career that produced six wins from only eight career appearances, and his loss is a crushing blow to his connections and to New Zealand racing.
Gold Watch was ridden by New Zealand’s reigning premiership winner Danielle Johnson – partner of Entriviere’s trainer Jamie Richards – who suffered a suspected broken lower leg in the incident and now faces a summer on the sidelines.
Johnson is set to accompany Jamie Richards to Hong Kong when he relocates there in the autumn for a new challenge in his record-breaking training career.
Wolverine remains undefeated
Johnson’s afternoon had started on a much brighter note in the G2 First Global Logistics Eclipse S., where exciting filly Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci) extended her undefeated record to three-from-three.
Wolverine (NZ), winner of the G2 Eclipse S. at Ellerslie | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
A winner on debut at Otaki in November, followed by the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. at Te Rapa in December, Wolverine was second past the post in the Eclipse after Pacific Dragon (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) edged her out by 0.1l in a tight photo finish. But that result was reversed on protest after Pacific Dragon drifted noticeably outwards during the final 200 metres.
Racing in the colours of part-owners Australian Bloodstock, Wolverine is now set to be among the favourites for the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO at Ellerslie on January 22.
She was bred by Waikato Stud, who will offer a half-brother by Iffraaj (GB) (Lot 350) at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Wolverine herself was bought for NZ$50,000 from Waikato Stud’s draft at last year’s Sale by Roydon Bergerson and Chris Rutten Bloodstock.
Orphan triumphs in Royal Stakes
A filly that was orphaned within minutes of her birth is now a Group 2 winner who has the G1 New Zealand Oaks looming large on her horizon.
Self Obsession (NZ) (Shocking) won Saturday’s Valachi Downs Royal S. for her Hong Kong-based owner-breeder David Price, and she is now the winner of two of her three career starts.
Self Obsession (NZ) winning the G2 Royal S. at Ellerslie | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
The filly was bred and raised at Hallmark Stud, whose owner Mark Baker tweeted about her remarkable journey following the death of her dam Mawaakib (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
“Born and raised on the farm, she has always had a special place in our heart,” Baker said. “An orphan minutes after birth, she has overcome adversity from day one. That will to succeed was clear to see in the finish today.”
Self Obsession’s hard-fought 0.1l victory over Princess Lowry (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) in the Royal S. on Saturday prompted Jamie Richards to put her on a path towards the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on March 19.
“An orphan minutes after birth, she (Self Obsession) has overcome adversity from day one. That will to succeed was clear to see in the finish today.” - Mark Baker
“It was very tight, and that other one had us beaten everywhere but the line,” Richards said. “Full credit to our filly though. She is a big staying type that toughed it out.
“I thought she would appreciate the step up to 2000 metres, because she’s bred to get that sort of trip. She has a big, loping action that allows her to roll along on the speed. It wasn’t easy, as she got attacked a fair way out, but she was tough and got it done.”
Dark Destroyer delivers in Guineas
The astute eye of bloodstock agent Paul Moroney helped prominent Kiwi owner David Archer secure another big-race performer in the form of Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir), who won Saturday’s G2 Skycity Auckland Guineas at Ellerslie.
Dark Destroyer (NZ) winning the G2 Auckland Guineas at Ellerslie | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Archer has recently farewelled two of his favourites, proven Group 1-performers The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) and Sir Charles Road (Myboycharlie {Ire}), who were both retired from racing during 2021.
But Dark Destroyer has emerged as an ideal replacement, debuting in September and winning three out of six to date including the G2 Auckland Guineas and G3 Bonecrusher S.
Dark Destroyer still had plenty of ground to make up on tearaway leader Field Of Gold (Starspangledbanner) coming into the last 100 metres of Saturday’s Guineas, but he lengthened stride impressively to reel in that rival and beat him by 0.2l.
Dark Destroyer (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Archer was quick to pay tribute to Moroney, who identified Dark Destroyer after he was passed in with a reserve of NZ$30,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
“We’re actually quite lucky to own him,” Archer said. “He was passed in at Karaka as a yearling, and I asked Paul Moroney which of the passed in lots he liked the best. He gave me a list of five to have a look at, and Dark Destroyer was one of those.
“This is a big thrill today and our hearts are pumping. It’s been quite a long time between drinks for us, but this is a brave little horse who’s very tough, very talented and really progressing well. Our Derby dream is still alive!”
“It’s been quite a long time between drinks for us, but this is a brave little horse (Dark Destroyer) who’s very tough, very talented and really progressing well. Our Derby dream is still alive!” - David Archer
Dark Destroyer is now among the favourites for the G1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on March 5.
Group 2 double for Weatherley
Dark Destroyer’s impressive Guineas win was the first leg of a Group 2 double for jockey Sam Weatherley, who later added the Rich Hill Mile aboard Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca).
Mali Ston (NZ) (middle) winning the G2 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Making the second win even more special was the fact that Mali Ston is trained by Weatherley’s father Darryn, who celebrated his first black-type victory as a trainer.
“This is my biggest thrill in racing, and I’m just so pleased for the family and the owners who have entrusted Dad with the horse,” the younger Weatherley said.
“What a little ripper he is, and when he got to the front, he pricked his ears and tried to throw it away. I really think he could be a top-liner in New Zealand going forward. I’m absolutely over the moon.”
“I really think he (Mali Ston) could be a top-liner in New Zealand going forward. I’m absolutely over the moon.” - Sam Weatherley
Bred and raced by the Matijasevich family’s Markwood Lodge, Mali Ston has now won five of his seven career starts, including all of his last four in succession.
Peters and Williams again in Perth Cup
Just a few weeks on from their Group 1 treble with Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), Graceful Girl (Nicconi) and Regal Power (Pierro), Perth's all-conquering combination of owner-breeders Bob and Sandra Peters and trainers Grant and Alana Williams struck again on Saturday in the G2 Tabtouch Perth Cup.
Midnight Blue (So You Think {NZ}) was sent out as favourite for the $400,000 feature and duly delivered, producing an irresistible finish in the straight for jockey Patrick Carbery. The 5-year-old has now had 19 starts for five wins, eight-placings and more than $500,000 in stakes.
Bob and Sandra Peters with the G2 Perth Cup | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Midnight Blue is a half-brother to two stakes winners - Demonetization (All Too Hard), who has won nine races in New Zealand including the G2 Auckland Guineas and Easter H., and two-time Listed winner Neverland (Big Brown {USA}).