Cover image courtesy of Race Images – Peter Rubery
New Plymouth: G3 Taranaki Cup, NZ$100,000, 1800m
Too good at big odds, making the pace and finding more when challenged, Colorado Star (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) has been a consistent performer - one who has broken through for his first black type success at the age of seven.
The 21s stakes winner for his four-time Group 1-winning sire, a son of O'Reilly (NZ), Colorado Star was bred by W J Gleeson. He is one of the six winners (from seven to race) for the stakes-placed, five-time winner Elegant Emerald (Unbridled's Song {USA}) who died in 2018.
A half-sister to the G1 New Zealand Oaks runner-up Blanket Bay (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Elegant Emerald also produced the G3 Winter Cup winner Ritani (NZ) (Makfi {GB}). Colorado Star is her second last foal, her last being the two-time winning 5-year-old Heidi Belle (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}).
Bred on a 5 X 4 cross of the great Mill Reef (USA) with duplications of the G1 Kentucky Oaks heroine Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), Colorado Star is a descendant of the influential G1 English 1000 Guineas winner Picture Play (GB) (Donatello II {Fr}).
G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic, NZ$85,000, 1200m
Never in any danger of defeat, Ulanova (NZ) (Santos) really looked the goods racing away to a very easy win at her fourth start.
Successful at her Te Repa debut last spring, she was on the heels of the placegetters in stakes company at her first two runs this time in - deserving of this black type breakthrough.
Bred by Ancroft Stud and sold to Mick Wallace for NZ$150,000 through the Kilgravin Lodge draft at the 2020 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale, Ulanova is the first stakes winner from the first 10 runners for Aquis Farm's first-season stallion Santos, a G2 Skyline S.-winning son of I Am Invincible (who earlier in the day sired the Listed Lonhro Plate winner Madeira Sunrise).
A descendant of the famed matriarch Simon's Shoes (GB) (Simon Square {GB}), Ulanova is bred on a 3 X 6 cross of the speed influence Vain.
She is one of the six winners (from as many to race) for the classy broodmare The Fairy's Kiss (Elusive Quality {USA} - also damsire earlier in the day of the G3 Chairman's S. winner Zulfiaqar by Exceed And Excel).
Due in 2022 to the in-form Proisir (no Stud Book return recorded online as yet), The Fairy's Kiss has also produced the Listed Merson Cooper S. winner Steal My Kisses (a three-quarter sister to Ulanova by I Am Invincible) and the stakes placegetters Butter Blonde (Choisir) and Unselfish Trust (Wanted).
The Group 3-placed The Fairy's Kiss is a daughter of the four-time Group winner Ballet Society (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}). Also dam of the four-time Group 2 winner Dame Giselle (also by I Am Invincible), she is a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Cent Home (NZ) (Lord Ballina).
Listed Oaks Prelude, NZ$65,000, 1800m
Getting clear late after driving up along the rails, Family Ties (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) was in the winner's circle for the second time from six starts.
Bred by Simms Davison, M Paterson and B Spencer, she was purchased by David Ellis for NZ$60,000 from the Mapperley Stud draft at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
The fifth stakes winner for her Mapperley Stud-based, dual Group 1-winning sire, she is the second foal for the metropolitan winner Glamazon (NZ) (Pins).
Her first foal - also by Contributer (Ire) - is a winner in Macau and she has fillies coming through by Contributer and Turn Me Loose (NZ), due to have foaled last spring to Tivaci.
Glamazon is one of the four winners produced by the Listed Rotorua S. winner Glitzy (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), also dam of the Group 3-placed Glintz (NZ) (Pins).
This is also the family of the stakes winners Savapinski (NZ) (Savabeel), Irish Flirt (NZ) (Mc Ginty {NZ}), O'Flirty (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) and McFlirt (NZ).
Wingatui: G3 White Robe Lodge S., NZ$100,000, 1600m
Winning the 50th running of this race in easy fashion, Perfect Scenario (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) broke through for his first stakes-level victory - and his sixth overall from 24 starts.
Bred by G E Graydon and E C Pollard and purchased by David Ellis for NZ$165,000 from the Woburn Farm draft at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Premier Yearling Sale, Perfect Scenario is the 91st stakes winner for his Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket-based sire who shuttled to New Zealand on 12 occasions.
He is the second stakes winner for the G3 Stoney Ridge S. winner Rosetti Bay (NZ) (Pins - also damsire earlier in the day of the Listed Oaks Prelude winner Family Ties {NZ} by Contributer {Ire}) who is no longer at stud.
She is also dam of the Listed Tauranga Classic winner Queens Rose (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) and the two-time winner Diamond Rose (NZ) (Danroad) whose daughter Rose 'N' Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) won the Listed Levin S.
Listed Dunedin Guineas, NZ$80,000, 1500m
The addition of blinkers saw Specialty (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) charge to the line, impressive recording his second win at stakes-level.
Also, winner last spring of the G3 Barnswood Farm S., the Clearview Park homebred is one of 35 stakes winners for his late Windsor Park Stud-based, multiple Group 1-winning sire, a son of Galileo (Ire).
Specialty is the first and to date only foal for the winner Rio Tennille (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}) who was not served in 2022. A half-sister to the 10-time winner Five Kings (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}), she hails from a strong Group 1 family - one which has produced the New Zealand Horse of the Year Tit For Taat (NZ) (Faltaat {USA}), Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Fashion Plate (USA) (Old Fashioned {USA}).
Specialty boasts an interesting pedigree with his sire bred on a Miswaki (USA)/Nureyev (USA) cross whilst his dam is bred on the opposite - plus he is a member of the Sadler's Wells (USA) sireline, that horse being a three-quarter brother to Nureyev.
Listed Dunedin Gold Cup, NZ$80,000, 2400m
With 200 metres to go there were five horses across the track and it was Honesty (NZ) (Postponed {USA}) who was able to assert her authority over the final stages.
In doing so the Gerry Harvey-bred mare recorded her sixth win from 48 starts - and at the age of eight - her first at stakes level.
The 91st stakes winner for her sire, she is one of two winners for the unplaced Requiem Moss (Mossman) whose two-time winning dam True Confession (Naturalism {NZ}) is a half-sister to the triple Group 1 winner Shamekha (Secret Savings {USA}) - dam of the dual Group 2 winner Shumookh (Dream Ahead {USA}).
This is also the family of the successful stallion Brave Warrior who did such a good job with only two small crops.
