Cover image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, NZ$400,000, 1600m
A couple of days delay to the running of this Classic made no difference to Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) who was an odds-on favourite - and who won like it!
Remaining undefeated after four starts, she was bred by W E Jeffries and purchased by Ancroft Stud for NZ$90,000 from the Highline Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale (Book 2).
She is one of the nine stakes winners for her Rich Hill-based, G3 Spring S.-winning sire, Proisir, a son of the late Choisir. Her win made it a Guineas double for Proisir whose son Pier (NZ) won the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas nine days ago.
Legarto is the third named foal and third winner for the two-time winner Geordie Girl (NZ) (Towkay) whose tough son Locally Sourced (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) has won 10 races.
Last spring paying a return visit to Proisir having had the two previous seasons off, Geordie Girl is a full sister to the Listed winner Rapid Kay (NZ) and half-sister to the Listed winner Kekova (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}).
Hailing from the family of the New Zealand Champion 2-Year-Old Ballybrit (NZ) (Wandering Eyes {Ire}), Legarto boasts crosses of the outstanding mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) and Aurora (GB) (Hyperion {GB}).
G3 New Zealand Cup, NZ$300,000, 3200m
Emerging victorious from an exciting two-horse battle over the final furlong, Aljay (NZ) (Rock 'N' Pop) put on display his staying prowess with this gutsy performance.
Bred by J N Wallace, Aljay made his way through the sales ring on two occasions - sold by Ardsley Stud for NZ$10,000 to Waterford Bloodstock at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale and for NZ$39,000 to trainer Kevin Myers at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
The second stakes winner for his NZ 2000 Guineas-winning sire - an Okawa Stud-based son of Fastnet Rock - Aljay is one of the six winners produced by the multiple city winner Albacora (NZ) (Lord Ballina).
A full sister to the G3 Winter Cup winner Don't Ya Lovett (NZ) (Lord Ballina), Albacora - who retired from stud duties after producing Aljay - is also dam of the high-class hurdler Tallyho Twinkletoe (NZ) (St Reims {NZ}) and the Hong Kong winners Mongolian King (NZ) (Sufficient) and Best City (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}).
Aljay is a descendant of the famed matriarch Pretty Polly (GB) (Gallinule {GB}).
G3 Stewards S., NZ$120,000, 1200m
Well-fancied on the back of his good finale when placed in the Listed Pegasus S. two weeks ago, Buoyant (NZ) (Dalghar {Fr}) was dominant recording the fifth win of his 15-start career.
Bred by S Cheung and passed in at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka May Sale with a reserve of just NZ$3000, Buoyant is the fourth stakes winner for his well-related, Group 3-winning, Brighthill Farm-based sire.
Now in Australia, Buoyant's unplaced (from four starts) dam Miss Minogue (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) was not served last year having foaled an Alpine Eagle filly. She also has a yet to be named 2-year-old colt by Needs Further whilst her 3-year-old daughter Mightymaxi (Preferment {NZ}) was last at his debut in Tasmania in September - trialling well recently.
Miss Minogue is a half-sister to the G3 Tibbe S. winner Spirit Bird (NZ) (Savabeel) and the stakes-placed, multiple city winner First Law (NZ) who - being by Dalghar (Fr) - is Buoyant's three-quarter brother.
Miss Minogue's grandam is the Listed Florida Oaks and Listed Boca Raton S. winner Sneaky Quiet (USA) (Seeking The Gold {USA}) from the family of the high-class stallion In Reality (USA).
Buoyant's pedigree brings together the multiple Group 1 winners Riverman (USA) and Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) and he is the 30th stakes winner bred this way. Riverman's dam River Lady (USA) (Prince John {USA}) is the third dam of Rock Of Gibraltar.
