Cover image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Tauranga: G2 Japan Trophy, NZ$110,000, 1600m
A fun race to watch with all six runners looking chances spread across the track with 300 metres to go! Getting the best of the others late was Gino Severini (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) recording his first win since his G3 Eagle Technology S. success in November 2020.
Bred by Stonethorn Stud Farms, he made his way through the sales ring on two occasions - fetching 58,000 gns (AU$108,000) to the bidding of de Burgh Equine at the 2015 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and 200,000 gns (AU$374,000) - purchased by Frederico Barberini Agent For Asian Bloodstock at the 2017 Tattersalls July Sale.
Raced by the Wallace family, Gino Severini is one of the 184 stakes winners for his high-class, Coolmore Stud-based sire. His dam is the placed Green Castle (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who has done a stellar job at stud - also producing the European, GB and Ireland Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner), the Listed winner Ithoughtitwasover (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) and the stakes placegetters Glenmayne (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) and Greenisland (Ire) (Fasliyev {USA}) - in turn dam of the Listed winners Shamshon (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Boerhan (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
Bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Nijinsky II (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}), Gino Severini can also count amongst his relations the Group winners Tadwiga (GB) (Fairy King {USA}), Rock Lobster (USA) (Mt. Livermore {USA}), Epos (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}) and Tellina (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}).
Riccarton: G3 Thoroughbred Breeders' S., NZ$90,000, 1600m
On the back of four consecutive placings it was deserved (and quite easy) success for Irish Girl (NZ) (El Roca) who enhanced her black-type record having been placed at Group 3 level in the spring of 2020.
A homebred for G M Hackett and V J Roberts, Irish Girl is the sixth stakes winner for her Westbury Farm-based, dual Listed-winning sire, a son of Fastnet Rock (Danehill {USA}). Sadly she is the one and only foal for her two-time winning dam Aimees Babe (NZ) (Postponed {USA}) who died young.
Aimees Babe's dam is the Listed Waikato Sprint H. winner Aimee's Idol (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}), dam of the G3 Canterbury Breeders' S. winner Aimee's Jewel (NZ) (Proisir) who is due to resume soon for Kyneton trainer Charles Cassar.
The 12th stakes winner line-bred to Century (Better Boy {Ire}), Irish Girl also carries duplications of the terrific mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Crimson Saint (USA) (Crimson Satan {USA}).
