Cover image courtesy of Te Akau Racing
Race-Day Recap
On Wednesday, at Randwick-Kensington, the John O’Shea-trained Getafix provided his former Coolmore Stud shuttle sire Calyx (GB) a first Southern Hemisphere winner.
Te Akau Racing’s tangerine silks were to the fore at Te Rapa in Wednesday’s G2 Waikato Guineas. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Ascend The Throne (NZ) (Savabeel), ridden by Opie Bosson, was gallant in fending off Mosinvader (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) in the 2000-metre feature.
The Paul Richards-trained blueblood Kealoha (The Autumn Sun) was impressive in breaking her maiden at Te Rapa on Wednesday.
Getafix provides first winner for Calyx
On Wednesday, at Randwick-Kensington, the John O’Shea-trained Getafix provided his former Coolmore Stud shuttle sire Calyx (GB) a first Southern Hemisphere winner.
Getafix, ridden by Nash Rawiller, was settled midfield over the 1250-metre journey and found plenty under Rawiller to finish stronger than Zealously (Harry Angel {Ire}), while 3.10l away was Cinsault (Brazen Beau).
The opener also was the platform for the much-anticipated debut of the $2.5 million yearling Railway Man, a son of I Am Invincible from the Group 1-winning mare Booker (Written Tycoon). It wasn’t the glorious start connections were hoping for, with the Railway Man dropping out to finish fifth 3.6l away alongside the modestly named Dale (Castelvecchio), who is owned by the Hollywood superstar Matt Damon, the Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained galloper finished in sixth.
Rawiller was taken by Getafix explaining post-race to Sky Racing he’s been a big fan of the colt, “I’ve loved him (Getafix) from the first time I sat on him.
“He’s still learning his caper, and he got on a rock-hard track on the Kenso (Randwick-Kensington) the other day in a trial, and that was a good experience for him as we learnt he didn’t really enjoy the firm conditions, and it was a little bit concerning, but I didn’t push him around and kept a couple of lengths up my sleeve.
“However, he came through it really well. Today (Wednesday), he really exploded when I needed him. John O’Shea thinks he’ll be even more dynamic over 1400 metres, and I agree with him. He’s a horse with plenty of scope, and he’s on the way up.”
“However, he (Getafix) came through it really well. Today (Wednesday), he really exploded when I needed him. John O’Shea thinks he’ll be even more dynamic over 1400 metres, and I agree with him. He’s a horse with plenty of scope, and he’s on the way up.” - Nash Rawiller
Getafix’s sire Calyx, a son of the brilliant Kingman (GB), showed immense talent when he exploded to win the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot and later claimed the G3 Pavilion S. at the track. Retired to Coolmore in Ireland, Calyx shuttled twice to Australia.
In his first season, he covered 69 mares and then 55 on his return in 2021. Getafix, bred by Meramie Ventures, is the second foal from the Darley-bred Grisaille (Helmet).
Grisaille’s first foal, Overflow Miss (Impending), has won once and placed from five starts. She foaled a filly by the exciting King’s Legacy and was served by Coolmore Stud’s Home Affairs after missing to the Rosemont Stud-based Starspangledbanner.
Getafix with jockey Nash Rawiller | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The daughter of Helmet is a half-sister to Seaside (Redoute’s Choice), who won the G3 Dark Jewel Classic. They are daughters of the Hennessy (USA) mare Living Spirit, a victress of three races as a 2-year-old, including the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.
Getafix was a $100,000 purchase by John O’Shea and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Te Akau Racing strikes at Te Rapa
Te Akau Racing’s tangerine silks were to the fore at Te Rapa in Wednesday’s G2 Waikato Guineas. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Ascend The Throne (NZ) (Savabeel), ridden by Opie Bosson, was gallant in fending off Mosinvader (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) in the 2000-metre feature.
Te Akau Racing was also responsible for the third-placed runner, What You Wish For (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}), while Zabmanzor (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) held on for fourth.
Ascend The Throne has won two of his four starts. The son of Savabeel broke his maiden at Matamata last start over 2000 metres and looked a likely candidate for the G1 New Zealand Derby in March.
He is the 132nd stakes winner for his eight–time Champion Sire Savabeel, who stands at Waikato Stud. Ascend The Throne hails from a beautiful family. His dam, the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Thee Achiever (NZ), won three races from 1600 to 2100 metres. She has produced the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic and the G3 Eulogy S. placegetter Achieve (NZ) (Pierro).
Thee Achiever is a three-quarter sister to The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), a Champion 3-Year-Old in New Zealand retiring with 11 victories. Among those wins were the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and the G1 International S. The Jewel also placed in the G1 Queensland Oaks, the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the G1 New Zealand Oaks.
Ascend The Throne (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Furthermore, this is the family of The Chosen One (NZ), a Champion Stayer in New Zealand with victories in the G1 Thorndon Mile, the G2 Herbert Power S., and the G3 Frank Packer Plate among his seven wins. The Chosen One also produced placings in the G1 Sydney Cup, the G1 Caulfield Cup and the G1 Tancred S.
Alongside the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and the G2 Surround S. victress La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}).
Ascend To The Throne was a NZ$575,000 purchase by David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) from the draft of Milan Park at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Sale.
Blueblood breaks through
The Paul Richards-trained Kealoha (The Autumn Sun) was impressive in breaking her maiden at Te Rapa on Wednesday. The 3-year-old filly was having her second start after finishing sixth on debut over 1200 metres at the venue earlier in January.
Stepping up to the mile on Wednesday and ridden by Niranjan S. Parmar, Kealoha showed vast improvement to defeat Jungleland (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) by 1.8l. The third-placed Better Times (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) was a further 2.1l away.
Kealoha is the final foal from the star mare Norzita (NZ) (Thorn Park), who passed in 2021 when in foal to The Autumn Sun. The daughter of Thorn Park was trained by the late Bart Cummings, and his grandson, James Cummings, who is now the Head Trainer of the powerful Godolphin organisation.
The Autumn Sun | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Norzita was crowned the Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in Australia, winning four races, including the G1 Flight S., the G1 Vinery Stud S. and the Listed Typhoon Tracy S. In addition, Norzita was placed in the G1 Doncaster H. and the G1 Coolmore Classic.
She proved successful at stud. Her first foal, a colt by the former Cummings-trained So You Think (NZ), Carif, won three races his trainers Peter and Paul Snowden. Among his career highlights was a victory in the Listed Sandown Cup and placings in the G2 Chairman’s H., the G2 Brisbane Cup, and the G3 Queen Elizabeth S.
Norzita’s second foal, Confidant (Fastnet Rock), has won three races, while her third, Nor Izzati, raced once and was retired where she foaled a filly by Russian Revolution this year and was served again by the Newgate Farm sire.
Kealoha as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Orzala (Snitzel), the penultimate foal from Norzita, won once and placed twice in six starts; she was also retired last season and served by Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel (NZ).
Kealoha was a $350,000 purchase by Konji Pty Ltd, J Richards and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
