Cover image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
G2 Wallen Concreting Avondale Cup, NZ$120,000, 2400m
With a 7kg advantage over the tough and game Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel), Hinepara (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) was able to run down the favourite and she did so in determined fashion - recording the sixth win of her 42-start career and her first in stakes company.
Bred by Chris Grace, Hinepara is the 55th stakes winner for her The Oaks Stud-based sire, a stalwart of New Zealand breeding. She is one of four winners produced by the placed Harinui (NZ) (Generous {Ire}) - also dam of the Group 3-placed four-time winner Waikaha (NZ) (Towkay).
Sadly passing away whilst foaling a few years ago, Harinui is a half-sister to the Singapore stakes winner Ace Aliado (NZ) (Towkay) from the family of the G1 Telegraph H. winner Morar (NZ) (Otehi Bay).
Hinepara is the 12th stakes winner bred on a Darci Brahma (NZ)/Nijinsky II (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can})-cross, the best bred this way being the dual Group 1 winner Nashville (NZ).
G2 AJC Avondale Guineas, NZ$120,000, 2100m
La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) proved a class above her rivals racing away to this easy win, her third in a row and her second at Group level on the back of her G3 Desert Gold S. success in late January.
A homebred for the Cassin family, she is one of the four stakes winners for Rich Hill's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp winner Vadamos (Fr), one of the best sons of the great Monsun (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}).
Her dam is the multiple city winner Destiny Cove whose sire Dubai Destination (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}) has made quite the name for himself as a broodmare sire with his daughters producing 43 stakes winners.
Also dam of the good Metropolitan-class four-time winner Bari (NZ) (Proisir), Destiny Cove was not served in 2021 and 2019, missing in between - making La Crique her most recent foal.
Destiny Cove is a granddaughter of the G2 Prix de Pomone winner Whitehaven (GB) (Top Ville {Ire}) whose son Copeland (GB) (Generous {Ire}) earned the title of Swiss Champion 3-Year-Old with his 11 victories. His half-sister Ennerdale (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) has done a great job at stud locally, producing eight winners including the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Eclair Big Bang (NZ) (Savabeel), the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Samara Dancer (NZ) (Hinchinbrook) as well as three stakes-placed city winners.
Ascot Park: Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas, NZ$80,000, 1600m
It was another easy victory for Palmetto (NZ) (Ghibellines) - his second in a row at Listed level and his third success from just eight starts.
One of the four stakes winners sired by his White Robe Lodge-based G2 Todman S.-winning sire, Palmetto was bred by C R and M N Smith, M C Stokes and the estate of the late L J Howard.
He is the second foal (and first named) for Carolina Island (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who won one of her 19 starts - a 2100-metre maiden at Ashburton.
Not served in 2020 and 2021 having produced an El Doute (Redoute's Choice) colt in 2019, Carolina Island is a half-sister to the Group 3-placed Flemington winner Kansas Sunflower (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and the Hong Kong winner Kinda Cool (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Carolina Island is a granddaughter of the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Bellarida (Fr) (Bellypha {Ire}) whose G3 Prix de Flore-winning daughter In Clover (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) produced the Group 1 winners Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}), We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
Hong Kong's Champion Stayer Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}) also hails from this branch of the prolific Simon's Shoes (GB) (Simon Square {GB}) family.
Palmetto's sire is bred on a Riverman (USA) (Never Bend {USA})/Danehill (USA) (Danzig {USA}) cross whilst his dam is bred on the opposite.
