Cover image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
G1 Manawatu Sires' Produce S., NZ$245,000, 1400m
A fifth win in a row in this race for Te Akau Racing with Maven Belle (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) showing both speed and heart.
A homebred filly, she is one of the seven stakes winners 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-time winner Doyenne (NZ) (Kilimanjaro {GB}) whose half-sister is the G1 Telegraph S. winner Levante (NZ) (Proisir).
Served last year 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).
G2 Awapuni Gold Cup, NZ$110,000, 2000m
Tough to the line recording her second stakes victory, Zola Express (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) enhanced her already great record.
Bred by the Alchemy Family Trust and Windsor Park Stud, she is one of the seven stakes winners for her Windsor Park Stud-based, G1 Newmarket H.-winning sire.
Bred on a 5 X 4 cross of Sir Tristram (Ire) (Sir Ivor {USA}) and a 5 X 6 cross of Mill Reef (USA) (Never Bend {USA}), she is out of the lightly raced Zolana (NZ) (Golan {Ire}), half-sister to the dam of the recent G3 Sunline Vase winner Bellatrix Black (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).
Zolana’s third dam is the G1 Avondale Gold Cup winner Bellota (NZ) (Oakville {GB}) whose descendants include the Group 1 winners Rocket Racer (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}), Lotteria (Redoute’s Choice) and Taatletail (NZ) (Faltaat {USA}).
Zolana retired from stud duties after producing just two foals, her other being This Is Me (NZ) (Thewayyouare {USA}) who had just two unplaced runs.
G3 Manawatu Classic, NZ$80,000, 2000m
A longshot winner in this feature contest, Amalfi Prince (Sebring) was having his seventh start having previously been beaten in a BM65 event.
Bred by Stephen Wilde and purchased by David Ellis for NZ$90,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Ready to Run Sale, Amalfi Prince is the 74th stakes winner for his late sire.
He is the second foal produced by the stakes-placed, multiple city winner Campania (Dubai Destination {USA}), granddaughter of the G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Born Priceless (Pricelessly {USA}) whose dam is the G3 Queen’s Plate winner Born Rich (Beau Sovereign {NZ}).
Served last spring by Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Campania produced a filly by that same stallion in early September having missed the previous season. Her previous foal is a colt by Zoustar (Northern Meteor).
Listed Flying S., NZ$60,000, 1400m
Another roughie result at Awapuni with Germanicus (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) finishing off strongly. One of the 33 stakes winners for his late sire, the homebred for the St Germaine Syndicate is out of the G3 Gold Trail S. winner St Germaine (NZ) (Keeper).
