Pukehoke: G2 Championship S., NZ$120,000, 2100m
Doing a good job from a tricky gate, Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) enhanced on his already nice record with his third win from just six starts.
A homebred for the Lindsay family, Pinarello is the 36th stakes winner for his much missed sire and the third for his G3 Ladies Day Vase-winning dam Zonza (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Served last spring by Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) having missed the previous season, Zonza is also dam of the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. winner Vernazza (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}) and the Listed Challenge S. winner Bevalla (Snitzel).
Boasting multiple strains of the prolific Simon’s Shoes (GB) (Simon Square {GB}) family via Sadler’s Wells (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}), Val de Loir (Fr) (Vieux Manoir {Fr}) three times, Reform (Ire) (Pall Mall {Ire}) and Nureyev (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}), Pinarello is also line-bred to the great Nijinsky II (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}).
G3 Easter H., NZ$120,000, 1600m
A step up in class proved no hindrance for Carolina Reaper (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) who has done a great job winning four of her 14 starts.
Bred by Nearco Stud Ltd and Pee Gee and W J Bloodstock Ltd, she was a bargain purchase for Richardson Racing Stables who picked her up for just NZ$12,000 from Book 2 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale.
The fourth stakes winner and first Group winner for her Valachi Downs-based, Group 1-winning sire, Carolina Reaper is out of the unraced Bonney Pepper (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), half-sister to the French Listed winner Tilly's Chilli (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) and to the dam of the stakes winners Cala Tarida (GB) (Garswood {GB}) and Red Onion (GB) (Fast Company {Ire})
Bonney Pepper died two years ago with her second and third foals being a full brother and sister to Carolina Reaper.
Listed Champagne S., NZ$70,000, 1600m
A Listed winner at just his second outing, Sharp 'N' Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) looks to have a bright future. Bred by Gerry Harvey and purchased by Rogerson Bloodstock for NZ$55,000 from Book 2 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale, he is the 10th stakes winner for his Westbury Stud-based sire, a Group 1-winning son of High Chaparral (Ire) (Sadler's Wells {USA}).
His dam Queen Margaret (NZ) (Swiss Ace) raced just the once and sadly died last year having produced just one other foal, a yearling full sister to Sharp 'N' Smart.
Boasting Mr Prospector (USA) (Raise A Native {USA}) and Lyphard (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}) crosses, Sharp 'N' Smart boasts amongst his close relations the stakes winners Absalon (Mossman), Sir Ernesto (Danehill {USA}) and Angling (Lure {USA}) as well as the multiple Group 1-winning stallion Halling (USA) (Diesis {GB}).
Riccarton: G3 Canterbury Gold Cup, NZ$100,000, 2000m
A deserved third Group win success for the consistent Prise de Fer (NZ) (Savabeel), one of the 125 stakes winners for Waikato Stud’s G1 W.S Cox Plate-winning stalwart.
Bred by Raffles Dancers Pty Ltd and purchased by Te Akau for NZ$100,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, he is one of the five winners produced by the unraced Foil (Snippets), also dam of the G2 Sapphire S. winner Belong To Many (Belong To Me {USA}) whose son Native Soldier (Sepoy) - now at stud in Europe - won two Group 3 races.
Now retired, Foil - a descendant of the influential Cinna (GB) (Polymelus {GB}) - is a half-sister to the G1 The Goodwood H. winner Sword (Switch In Time {Ire}).
Listed Warstep S., NZ$60,000, 2000m
Going right on with it having caught the eye with a fast finish at her previous outing, Burgie (NZ) (Ghibellines) did well winning her second race from just seven starts.
A homebred for B J Anderton ONZM and Mrs L E Anderton, she is the second foal and first named foal for the six-time winner Norah (NZ) (Gallant Guru), half-sister to the G3 Eclipse S. winner Requisite (NZ) and the Listed winner Rosa Marada (NZ) who are both by Yamanin Vital (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Not served last spring, Norah produced a Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) colt in November with her previous foal being a yet to be named 2-year-old full sister to Burgie.
Line-bred to the close relations Northern Dancer (Can) (Nearctic {Can}) and Halo (USA) (Hail To Reason {USA}), Burgie is the fifth stakes winner for her White Robe Lodge-based, G2 Todman S.-winning sire.
