Ellerslie: G1 Vodafone NZ Derby, NZ$1,000,000, 2400m
A surprise result to New Zealand's premier event for 3-year-olds, favourite La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) shuffled back in running - finishing off gamely but just unable to match the longshot Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
The second NZ Derby winner in a row for the Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott stable (Rocket Spade by Fastnet Rock successful last year), Asterix was stepping up in class off a 2100-metre maiden victory at Tauranga.
The day's second stakes winner (Sword Of State by Snitzel the first) bred by Go Bloodstock, Asterix was purchased for NZ$450,000 by Bruce Perry Bloodstock at the 2020 New Zealand Ready to Run Sale.
The 34th stakes winner for his much missed sire, Asterix is one of the three winners produced by the stakes-placed Mourasana (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) - half-sister to the G2 Prix de Royallieu winner Mouramara (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), dam of the G1 Sydney Cup winner Mourayan (Ire) (Alhaarth {Ire}) and the Listed March S. winner Mourilyan (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}) who ran third in the 2009 G1 Melbourne Cup won by Shocking (Street Cry {Ire}).
A member of the prolific Sister Sarah (GB) (Abbots Trace {Ire}) branch of the Pretty Polly (GB) (Gallinule {GB}) family, Asterix is bred on a 7 X 6 cross of the Canadian Hall of Fame member Flaming Page (USA) (Bull Page {USA}) via her son Nijinsky II (Can) and grandson The Minstrel (Can), three-quarter brothers by Northern Dancer (Can).
Mourasana was served last spring by Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park) with her most recent foal being a yearling full sister to Asterix.
G2 Haunui Farm King's Plate, NZ$100,000, 1200m
It looked to be a match race between the classy Australian-bred gallopers Sword Of State (Snitzel) and Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) and the race did not disappoint with the former getting the upperhand late.
A four-time stakes-winning $600,000 graduate of the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale - purchased by David Ellis, Sword Of State was bred by Go Bloodstock.
One of the 119 stakes winners sired by his Arrowfield Stud-based sire (four times crowned Australian Champion Sire), he is the first foal for the lightly raced Canterbury maiden winner In The Vanguard (Encosta De Lago) who finished second to Scarlet Rain (Manhattan Rain) in the G2 Sweet Embrace S.
Last spring paying a return visit to Snitzel (Redoute's Choice), she foaled a Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock) filly in October with her other foal being the 2-year-old filly Miss Bombshell (Russian Revolution), a $100,000 2020 Magic Millions purchase for Nxt Level Syndication - trained at Beaudesert by Sean Andersen.
In The Vanguard is one of the four winners for the G2 Light Fingers winner Sharp (Danzero) from the family of the brilliant G1 Flight S. winner Angst (Kala Dancer {GB}).
A descendant of the famed mare Sceptre (GB) (Persimmon {GB}), Sword Of State is bred on a 3 X 4 cross of Danehill (USA) (Danzig {USA}); also carrying multiple strains of that great stallion's relation and grandsire Northern Dancer (Can) (Nearctic {Can}) and one of another relative in Halo (USA) (Hail To Reason {USA}).
G3 Mckee Family Sunline Vase, NZ$90,000, 2100m
An exciting finish to a competitive race with Bellatrix Black (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) showing plenty of heart over the final stages.
Having just her fifth start, the homebred for J R Alexander and N.D.R McKerchar was up in class off an easy maiden win at Tauranga a couple of weeks ago.
The ninth stakes winner for her Westbury Stud-based, Group 1-winning sire, the cleverly named filly (Harry Potter fans take note) is the first foal produced by Dark Arts (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a winning daughter of the 2100-metre winner Zolata (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) whose granddaughter Zola Express (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) won last year's Listed Wanganui Cup.
This is a solid Group 1 family, its other members including the big-race winners Bellotta (NZ) (Oakville {GB}) - Bellatrix Black's G1 Avondale Gold Cup-winning fourth dam - Rocket Racer (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}), Starzaan (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}), Lotteria (Redoute's Choice), Taatletail (NZ) (Faltaat {USA}), Miss Margaret (Marscay) and Lord Reims (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}).
Served last spring by Ace High (like Redwood {GB}, a son of High Chaparral {Ire}), Dark Arts has the yet to race 2-year-old Wolf Moon (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and a yearling colt by a third son of High Chaparral in Contributer (Ire).
Bellatrix Black is bred on a 5 X 6 cross of the influential mare Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) via her grandson Sadler's Wells (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}) and son Nureyev (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}).
Listed Stella Artois Mufhasa S., NZ$80,000, 1400m
Too strong as favourite, On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) - a NZ$90,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale graduate out of a half-sister to the G1 Myer Classic winner Politeness (Street Sense {USA}) - recorded his fourth black-type victory. Bred by Burnewang North Pastoral, he is one of the 16 stakes winners for his Darley Victoria-based sire.
Wingatui: Listed NZB Airfreight S., NZ$60,000, 1400m
It was a very easy win recorded by Reputabelle (NZ) (Pins) who looks highly promising having now won her last three from just six starts. Bred by Waikato Stud, the full sister to the stakes-placed Florence Jean (NZ) and three-quarter sister to the G3 Victoria H. winner Stickpin (NZ) (Pins) is the 87th stakes winner for her late sire.
