Ellerslie: R. Listed Karaka Millions 3YO, NZ$1,500,000, 1600m
Lightly raced and promising is Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel), the lightly raced filly who raced away with this rich contest, easily putting 2.5l on her rivals.
Successful at half of her first six starts, she is the 138th stakes winner for her Waikato Stud-based sire, a stalwart of New Zealand breeding.
She is the first live foal for her Group 3 placed four times winning dam Symphonic (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who was due to again have foaled to Savabeel last spring, in 2022 producing a colt by him.
Symphonic is out of a half-sister to the G1 Ellerslie Sires' Produce S. winner Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}), dam of the stakes winners Tully Dane and Mygoodgrace (Royal Academy {USA}).
Other members of this prolific family include the Group 1 gallopers Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) and Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}).
Orchestral is the 29th stakes winner (amongst 159 winners from 217 runners) by Savabeel out of a mare by O’Reilly (NZ). And she is one of the 11 winners from 13 runners by Savabeel out of a mare by O’Reilly with a grandam by Danasinga.
R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO, NZ$1,000,000, 1200m
It was a smart performance by Velocious (Written Tycoon) recording the third win of her four start career.
Bred by Inglewood Stud and sold by them to Go Racing for NZ$190,000 at last year's New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, she is one of the 59 stakes winners for her Yulong based Australian Champion Sire.
She is one of the three winners from as many foals for the lightly raced Seymour and Benalla winner Parmalove (Snitzel) who has also produced the stakes placed Penvose Lad (U S Navy Flag {USA}) and the two times winner Mozzarella (NZ) (Capitalist).
Due to have foaled last spring by Per Incanto (USA) after foaling a Dundeel (NZ) filly in 2022, Parmalove is out of the Group 2 placed dual city winner Love's Here (Dehere {USA}) who had another seven winners including the Listed Alinghi S. winner Liesele (Exceed And Excel) and the R. Listed Scone Inglis Guineas winner Loved Up (Nicconi).
A descendant of the influential matriarch Simon's Shoes (GB) (Simon Square {GB}), Velocious is one of the 19 stakes winners combining Written Tycoon and Redoute's Choice - a cross which provides for the duplication of the wonderful mare Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}).
G2 Westbury Classic, NZ$500,000, 1400m
Too good at nice odds on pace, Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was in the winner’s circle for the first time since taking out the G1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' S. last April.
One of the 28 stakes winners for her Little Avondale Stud based sire, the DK Woodhouse homebred is one of thee four winners (from as many to race) produced by the winner Miss Rhythmic (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) whose grandam is the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Olga’s Pal (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}).
Olga’s Pal produced nine winners from her 12 foals to race, her best being the G2 Tulloch S. winner Zareyev (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). She is also grandam of the G1 VRC Oaks heroine Kirramosa (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) and the G2 WA Guineas winner Cape North (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}).
Due to have foaled to Per Incanto last spring, Miss Rhythmic had the previous season off with her most recent foal being a Time Test (GB) 2-year-old filly.
G3 Almanzor Trophy, NZ$225,000, 1200m
Remaining undefeated with another easy win, Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) made it seven from seven - doing a great job at his first outing since his G1 NZ 2000 Guineas success in November.
One of the nine stakes winners for his late sire, he is a home-bred for the Nakhle family out of their two times winner Gracehill (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) whose dam is the G2 Concorde H. winner Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}).
That mare did a good job at stud - also producing the Group 3 gallopers Killarney (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) and Crosshaven (Smart Missile).
Now in Australia, Gracehill was due to have foaled last spring to Brazen Beau with her previous recorded foal being a 2021 colt by Pride Of Dubai.
Gracehill has as her fifth dam one of the most popular mares of the Australian turf, the multiple Group 1 winning sprinter Maybe Mahal (Maybe Lad).
Crocetti is line-bred to the excellent mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}).
G3 Concorde H., NZ$225,000, 1200m
Getting clear with 200 metres to go having loomed up from the 200m, Master Fay (Deep Field) looked to have a bit in hand recording his first stakes-level victory and his third win from as many starts.
A horse who made his way to Hong Kong on the back of good early trial form, Master Fay won at Shatin in January 2021 and today’s win came at his first outing since then!
Bred by M.J O’Donnell, Master Fay made his way through the sales ring on two occasions, sold by Fairhill Farm to Bleakley Bloodstock for $72,000 at the 2018 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale and by Highden Park to the Riverrock Farm Partnership for NZ$100,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
The 28th stakes winner for his retired sire, Master Fay is out of the Moonee Valley winner Keeping Score (NZ) (Keeper), half-sister to the G3 Hobart Cup winner Zacielo (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Keeping Score - who was served last spring by Acrobat after slipping to Captivant (a full brother to Master Fay being her latest foal born in 2022) - is also a half-sister to the dam of the Malaysian based stakes winner Tannhauser (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and the grandam of the G1 Telegraph S. winner Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}).
Hailing from one of New Zealand’s favourite families, Master Fay can claim amongst his relations the big race winners Sovereign Red (NZ) and Gurner’s Lane (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Riccarton Park: Listed Timaru S., NZ$80,000, 1400m
Showing her rivals a clean pair of heels with this dominant performance, The Radiant One (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) recorded her first win at stakes level and her fifth overall.
The 58th stakes winner for her retired The Oaks-based sire, she is out of the four times Group 3 winner The Diamond One (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) whose dam is the NZ Champion 3YO The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
The Jewel also produced the Listed winner The Precious One (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and the dam of The Oaks’ G1 Thorndon Mile winner The Chosen One (NZ).
The Jewel’s dam is the dual Listed winner The Grin (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}), also dam of the Group winners Star Affair (NZ) (Star Way {GB}) and The One (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and ancestress of another seven stakes winners including the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}).
The Diamond One was due to have foaled to Savabeel last year having visited him the two years previously - producing a colt and a filly by him.
