Cover image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
Race-Day Recap
Roger James and Robert Wellwood’s beautifully bred Sudbina (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) became the latest stakes winner for her family with a strong performance in the G3 Desert Gold S. at Trentham on Saturday.
It was a red-letter day for Robbie Patterson on Saturday at Trentham. Patterson’s star galloper Puntura (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) became a Group 1 champion in the Thorndon Mile, and immediately after Patteron’s bonny mare Mary Louise (NZ) (The Bold One {NZ}) proved too tough in the G3 Wellington Cup.
Hau Ora Farm-based Mongolian Falcon, a Group 2-winning son of Fastnet Rock, sired his first stakes when the Kelvin Tyler-trained Aberlour (NZ) took out the Listed Gore S. at Gore on Saturday.
Tony Pike has a promising gelding on his hands with the unbeaten Witz End (NZ). The son of Savabeel won by 2.8l at Trentham on Saturday.
Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (Ire) sired three winners across various distances on Flemington’s Saturday program.
Patterson on cloud nine as Puntura rolls to Thorndon success
New Plymouth horseman Robbie Patterson had an extraordinary Saturday at Trentham when his star galloper Puntura (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) proved best in the 63rd edition of the G1 Thorndon Mile as his stablemate One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One {NZ}) ran gamely to finish fourth over the unsuitable distance.
Immediately following Puntura’s success, the Patterson-trained Mary Louise (NZ) (The Bold One {NZ}) was brave in winning the G3 Wellington Cup over 3200 metres.
Puntura has been a star for Patterson. The son of Vespa (NZ) has 11 races, with the Thorndon Mile being his first Group 1 success. The Thorndon Mile brings his undefeated run to three, claiming the G2 Manawatu Challenge S. and the G3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile before Saturday.
Puntara (NZ), winner of the G1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham on Saturday | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
Finishing second was El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), while Lady Telena (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) ran third. Star mare Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) held on to finish seventh, having been in arguably the wrong part of the track.
The ex-Chris Waller-trained pair No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) and Skyman (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}) finished fifth and eighth, respectively.
Puntura was bred by his owners, Carole and John Lynskey. He is from the Magic Of Sydney mare Mumzahoney (NZ). She won twice over 1600 and 2100 metres.
Mary Louise (NZ), winner of the G3 Wellington Cup at Trentham on Saturday | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
Patterson’s Wellington Cup victress Mary Louise is from Daisy Louise (NZ), a daughter of Catbird, who is from the family of the G1 Australian Derby winner and G1 Caulfield Cup-placed Roman Emperor (NZ) and the G2 Wellington Guineas victor Rios (NZ).
It’s all Gold for Sudbina
A progressive daughter of Cambridge Stud’s Almanzor (Fr), Sudbina (NZ), proved strongest in the G3 Desert Gold S. at Trentham on Saturday.
Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Sudbina came into Saturday’s event after winning at Hastings on a Heavy 8 surface over 1400 metres; her previous success came at Taupo in October.
Finishing behind Sudbina in the valuable contest was Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and The Entertainer (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}).
Sudbina (NZ) (red cap), winner of the G3 Desert Gold S. at Trentham on Saturday | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
The beautifully related Sudbina was bred by her owners, Frantic Bloodstock and Haunui Bloodstock. She is from the unraced Danehill (USA) mare Destined (GB), whom Paul Moroney Bloodstock astutely purchased at the 2005 Tattersalls December Mares Sales for 35,000gns (AU$67,400).
Destined is the dam of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, Fix (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), who won the G2 Eight Carat Classic, the G2 Royal S. and the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic. Fix was also placed in the G1 New Zealand Derby and the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas in an outstanding career.
Sudbina is from the family of Foreteller (GB), the courageous son of Dansili (GB), who was a star for Chris Waller, winning the G1 Ranvet S., the G1 Makybe Diva S., and the G1 Underwood S.
Foreteller retired as a winner of 11 races and a multiple Group 1 placegetter. His sister Modern Look (GB) (Zamindar {USA}) won the G2 Prix de Sandringham and the G3 Maisons-Laffitte Prix Miesque. Meanwhile, this is also the family of the successful sire Showcasing (GB), who claimed the G2 Gimcrack S. and the G1 JJ Atkins placegetter Political Debate (So You Think {NZ}).
Sudbina is the 12th stakes winner for Almanzor. The son of Wootton Bassett (GB) is set to be represented by 46 Book 1 yearlings in the upcoming 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Sires on fire!
Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (Ire) made Flemington his own on Saturday, siring three winners at the historic venue. Starting the run for Toronado was the Dan O’Sullivan-trained One Last Kiss, who came with a late run under Luke Currie to nab the 2520-metre VRC Life Member Robert Lane Trophy BM78.
Toronado (Ire) | Standing at Swettenham Stud
The well-related One Last Kiss is the eighth and penultimate foal for the Black Hawk (GB) mare St Trinians. Three of her eight victories came in Listed races, showing herself to be a more than capable galloper. However, it’s as a broodmare where she has shined.
St Trinians is the dam of the talented Affair To Remember. A full sister to One Last Kiss, she claimed the G2 Matriarch S. and was placed in the G1 Australasian Oaks. St Trinians daughter Bahamas (Teofilo {Ire}) was placed in the G3 South Australia Fillies Classic and is the dam of Berkeley Square (Territories {Ire}), a winner of the G2 Moonee Valley Vase; he also ran fourth in the G1 Caulfield Guineas.
In addition to Berkeley Square, Bahamas is the dam of Senor Toba (Toronado {Ire}). The former Chris Waller-trained galloper won the G3 Frank Packer Plate and was placed in the G1 Queensland Derby. Senor Toba was sent to Hong Kong, where he proved successful, winning the G3 Centenary Vase and the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup.
The Toronado-sired El Soleado prevailed for Robbie Laing and Mark Zahra in the VRC Life Member John Sale Mile BM70. The progressive galloper was winning for the third time from 12 starts. His dam Sunnyvale (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) is from the family of the star Japanese filly Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}).
Rounding out Toronado’s winners at Flemington was the Stephen Brown-trained Southern Fire, who took out the 1200-metre Tour d’Horse Trophy. The 4-year-old mare also provided the visiting French-born and Japanese-based rider Mickaelle Michel with her first winner in Australia and Flemington.
It was a remarkable victory for Southern Fire, having been beaten at Wagga in Class 1 company last start and unplaced at Seymour at BM58 level before Saturday. Southern Fire is from the Snitzel mare Kissed By Fire.
Another stallion who enjoyed a super Saturday of results was Yarraman Park’s Hellbent. The son of I Am Invincible sired four winners across Australasia and one in Singapore. Hellbent’s winners were headed by the juvenile Fully Lit at Rosehill for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
His other winners were the Tony Gollan-trained Blue Spinel at Eagle Farm and Chilli Jam from Tony Comerford stable at Townsville. While across the ditch, the Sue Thompson and Mick Brown-trained Fancy Like Lass saluted at Trentham, and the David Kok-trained Pacific Snoopy broke her maiden in Singapore.
Aberlour salutes in Gore Guineas
The Kelvin Tyler-trained Aberlour (NZ) provided her sire, Mongolian Falcon, his first stakes winner when she took out the Listed Gore Guineas at Gore on Saturday.
The 3-year-old filly brought winning form into the event having won her maiden at Riverton twenty-days ago. Aberlour, ridden by Jasmine Fawcett, defeated Hakadecree (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) and Epee Beel (Epaulette).
It was a successful outing to Gore for Fawcett, who rode Shockallia (NZ) (Shocking) to a win for Tyler earlier on the program and then a race before the Guineas won the Gore Cup aboard Humbucker (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) for Elis Winsloe.
Saturday was also a successful day for sons of Fastnet Rock standing in New Zealand. Alongside the G3 Hawke's Bay Guineas winner Mongolian Falcon, The Bold One, another son of Fastnet Rock, sired the G3 Wellington Cup victress Mary Louise and his son One Bold Cat ran fourth in the G1 Thorndon Mile S.
Aberlour is from the Postponed (USA) mare Sophie Louise (NZ). In addition to Abelour, Sophie Louise is the dam of the Group 2-placed Tobilicious (NZ) (Natural Destiny), who also finished fourth in the G1 Thorndon Mile.
Furthermore, this is the family of the G1 Easter H. victor Pasta Post (NZ) (Postponed {USA}), the G3 Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup Domingo (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}) and the 11-time winner Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}), who when trained by Chris Waller claimed such races as the G3 Epona S. and the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup.
Savabeel’s Witz remains unbeaten
The Tony Pike-trained Witz End (NZ) (Savabeel) maintained his unbeaten record at Trentham on Saturday, winning the opening event.
Witz End broke his maiden at Hastings in December by 2l and was dominant again at Trentham, recording an official margin of 2.8l.
The 3-year-old gelding, ridden by Sam Weatherley, won from Terra Preta (NZ) (Proisir) and Hastobeawinner (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}). Witz End is from the Bernardini (USA) mare Gallwitz, who was unraced but boasts such relations as the Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Retrieve (Rahy {USA}), the multiple Listed winner Reparations (Exceed And Excel) and the Listed victress Abduction (Street Cry {Ire}).
Trelawney Stud offered Witz End at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, but he failed to meet his reserve of NZ$250,000. Trelawney Stud offered the son of Savabeel at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, where Pike Racing paid NZ$200,000.
