G1 Herbie Dyke S., NZ$400,000, 2000m
What a great preparation Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) has been enjoying and this was a well-deserved Group 1 breakthrough for the mare who campaigned in Queensland last winter.
Bred by EVB Ltd and passed in at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, Coventina Bay is one of the 3-time winner produced by the three times winner Coventina (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who sadly died foaling in 2018.
Coventina's dam is the stakes-placed Niniane (NZ) (Casual Lies {USA}), daughter of the dual Group 1 winner Nimue (NZ) (Star Way {GB}) who produced nine winners including the dam of the G3 Colin Stephen H. winner Deane Martin (NZ) (Keeper).
Nimue is one of 11 winners for the wonderful broodmare Eustaci (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) whose other classy progeny include the G1 Easter H. winner Sirstaci (NZ) (Silver Dream {GB}), the G1 Wellington Cup winner Smiling Like (NZ) (Star Way {GB}) and the dual Group 3 winner Eurostar (NZ) (Star Way {GB}).
Boasting Northern Dancer (Can) (Nearctic {Can}), Mill Reef (USA) (Never Bend {USA}), Sir Tristram (Ire) (Sir Ivor {USA}) and Sir Ivor (USA) (Sir Gaylord {USA}) crosses, Coventina Bay is also line-bred to Never Bend's influential dam Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}).
Coventina Bay is one of the seven stakes winners sired by Windsor Park Stud's G1 Newmarket H. winner Shamexpress (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) and she is his first Group 1 winner.
G1 BCD Group Sprint, NZ$220,000, 1400m
Levante (NZ) (Proisir) made it a second Group 1 win on the back of her Telegraph H. success with this gutsy performance.
One of the seven stakes winners (and his first Group 1 winner) sired by Rich Hill Stud's G3 Spring S winner Proisir (Choisir), 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}).
And she is the grandam of Maven Belle (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) who earlier in the day won the G3 2Y0 Classic.
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 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies' Classic, NZ$110,000, 2000m
It was a great battle to the line with Self Obsession (NZ) (Shocking) getting the upperhand late, showing plenty of heart recording the third win of her four-start career and her second at Group 2 level.
The G1 NZ Oaks bound filly - a homebred for D Price, is one of the 18 stakes winners sired by her Rich Hill Stud-based, G1 Melbourne Cup winner. Her dam is the lightly raced Sandown winner Mawaakib (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), also dam of the lightly raced Sale winner Generation Gap (NZ) (Nadeem). Sadly she produced only three foals with Self Obsession the last of those.
Mawaakib's dam is the Group 2-placed My Hangover (NZ) (My Halo {Arg}) whose dam Hangover Street (Whiskey Road {USA}) is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Electrique (Zephyr Zip).
Boasting crosses of the close relations Halo (USA) (Hail To Reason {USA}) and Northern Dancer (Can) (Nearctic {Can}) with a strain of another member of this prolific family in Machiavellian (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}) thrown in, Self Obsession is also 6 X 6 the wonderful mare Flower Bowl (USA) (Alibhai {GB}).
Other members of this family include the stakes winners Fontelina (Testa Rossa), Burberry (SAf) (Whistling Wood {SAf}), Stormy Miss (More Than Ready {USA}), Caretaker (Dr Grace {NZ}), Kinnersley (Al Maher) and Power Princess (Marwina).
G3 Platinum Homes 2YO Classic, NZ$80,000, 1200m
Odds-on favourite Maven Belle (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) looked to be in a tricky spot coming to the turn but the splits came early in the straight and she was off and away - a bit green at times but strong when it counted.
A homebred for Te Akau Racing, Maven Belle is the eighth stakes winner for her late sire, a G3 Breeders' S. winner who died after serving seven books of mares.
She is the third foal and first winner for the stakes-placed, six-times winner Doyenne (NZ) (Kilimanjaro {GB}) whose half-brother is the G1 Telegraph S. winner Levante (NZ) (Proisir).
Served in 2021 by Embellish (NZ) (Savabeel), Doyenne was a bargain broodmare purchase for just NZ$4500.
Boasting Nureyev (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}) and Sir Gaylord (USA) (Turn-To {Ire}) crosses, Maven Belle can count amongst her relations the G1 French Derby winner Bering (GB) (Arctic Tern {USA}), the G1 Secretariat S. winner Bayrir (Fr) (Medicean {GB}) and the local G3 BTC Classic winner Cryptavia (NZ) (Gold Brose).
