Cover image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
G1 Telegraph H., NZ$250,000, 1200m
It was an exciting finish to the day’s Group 1 feature, Levante (NZ) (Proisir) and Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) going to the line locked together with a photo required to split them - the former having her nose out where it counted.
Already a triple stakes winner, the tough and consistent mare only just missed out on Group 1 success when run down by Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in the G1 Railway S. two weeks ago.
One of the seven stakes winners - and the first Group 1 winner - sired by Rich Hill Stud’s G3 Spring S. winner Proisir, Levante was bred by L Williams. She is the final foal produced by the imported mare Island Doy (GB) (Doyoun {Ire}) who has been represented by another four winners including the stakes placegetters Doyenne (NZ) (Kilimanjaro {GB}) and Miss Isle (NZ) (Bachelor Duke {USA}).
Island Doy is a half-sister to the G3 Courier Mail Classic winner Cryptavia (NZ) (Gold Brose) from the family of G1 French Derby hero Bering (GB) (Arctic Tern {USA}) and the G1 Secretariat S. winner Bayrir (Fr) (Medicean {GB}).
Levante boasts crosses of the prolific mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) and Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}).
G2 Wellington Guineas, NZ$110,000, 1400m
Shamus (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) remained undefeated with this determined victory and a bright future beckons.
The seventh stakes winner for his Windsor Park Stud-based G1 Newmarket H.-winning sire, he was bred by Jomara Bloodstock and purchased by the Sharrock stable for NZ$85,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Ready to Run Sale.
Bred on a 4 X 3 cross of Green Desert (USA) (Danzig {USA}) with duplications of the great mares Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}) and Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Shamus is the first foal for the unraced Chesapeake (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Served in 2020 by Tivaci (High Chaparral {Ire}), Chesapeake has a yet to be named 2-year-old colt by Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and a yearling full brother to Shamus.
Chesapeake’s great-grandam is the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Riviere D’Or (USA) (Lyphard {USA}), dam of the dual Group 1 winner Gold Spash (USA) (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and grandam of the Champion Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa {USA}).
Ancestress of this internationally prolific family is Black Ray (GB) (Black Jester {GB}) whose influential descendants include Blushing Groom (Fr) (Red God {USA}) and Mill Reef (USA) (Never Bend {USA}).
G3 Trentham S., NZ$80,000, 2100m
Waisake (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) made it a double for the Sharrock stable, in doing so recording his third victory at stakes level - having already won last year’s G3 Wellington Cup and Listed New Zealand St Leger.
Bred by L.E Jameson, Waisake - whose Grangewilliam Stud-based sire is of course best known as the sire of Verry Elleegant (NZ) (one of his 15 stakes winners) - made his way through the sales ring on two occasions.
At just NZ$1,100 a great bargain for Paul Willetts at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling Sale, he fetched NZ$28,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Festival Yearling Sale.
Waisake is one of the six winners produced by the placed and now retired Kincia (NZ) (Kinjite {NZ}), also dam of the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup winner Monachee (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) (in turn dam of the Listed Wanganui Guineas winner Cooga Doon {NZ} by Makfi {GB}) and the Group 2-placed Ciara (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Classy Western Australian stallion Beau Sovereign (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}) - winner of the G1 Caulfield Guineas - is a member of this family.
Waisake, who has won eight of his 29 starts, boasts crosses of the wonderful mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}) and Knight’s Daughter (GB) (Sir Cosmo {Ire}).
G3 Anniversary H., NZ$80,000, 1600m
Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) made it five wins from 10 starts, looking good taking the step up to stakes class - in doing so claiming the scalp of a gallant Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) who fought on gamely under her big weight.
The first stakes winner for his Windsor Park Stud-based G1 ATC Derby, New Zealand Derby and Caulfield Cup-winning sire, Bankers Choice is an exciting prospect for his owner/breeders Okaharau Station Ltd.
Bred on a 3 X 3 cross of Danehill (USA) (Danzig {USA}), he is one of three winners (from as many named foals) for the winner Signorina (NZ) (Conatus) whose closest stakes-winning relation is her fourth dam’s dual Group 1-winning half-sister Magic Flute (Adraan {GB}).
Paying a return visit in 2011 to Mongolian Khan, Signorina did not have much luck in the two seasons after producing Bankers Choice with her most recent foal being a yearling colt by Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Bankers Choice is the fifth stakes winner as a broodmare sire for the regally related Conatus (Danehill {USA}) who is doing a great job with only a few handfuls of daughters at stud.
Listed Wellesley S., NZ$60,000, 1100m
Showing a good turn of foot quickly picking up his rivals before charging clear to an easy win, Hanalei (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) made up for an unlucky defeat at his Te Aroha debut.
A homebred for his owners who include trainer Jamie Richards’ parents, Hanalei is stakes winner number 54 for his The Oaks-based sire, a stalwart of New Zealand breeding. It was a nice way to celebrate the 15th anniversary of his win in the G1 Telegraph H.
Hanalei is the third (and final) live foal produced by the two-time winner Lucrative (NZ) (Pyrus {USA}) whose 3-year-old son Cote de Beaune (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) (also trained by Richards) won the previous race at Trentham yesterday - a nice running double for connections!
Lucrative is a full sister to the G2 Waikato Gold Cup winner Dawn Ghost (NZ) out of the six-time winner Lucadore (NZ) (Wild Rampage) whose dam Free Sand (NZ) (Super Gray {USA}) is a half-sister to the stakes winners Sierra Sand (NZ) (Avon Valley {GB}), Sandsend (NZ) (Kingdom Bay {NZ}) and Page Boy (NZ) (Heir Presumptive {USA}).
G1 Queensland Derby hero Dorset Downs (NZ) (Val Dasant {Can}) also hails from this family as do the Group winners Hon Kwok Star (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}), Go Bint (NZ) (Bin Ajwaad {Ire}), Kaapeon (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}) and Casabella Lane (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
Hanalei boasts a pedigree of considerable depth, one which includes crosses of four influential mares within seven generations… Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Quick Arrow (Fr) (Casterari {Fr}), Sans Tares (GB) (Sind {GB}) and Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}).
