Group winners for Written Tycoon and Shocking at Riccarton as Cool Aza Rene remains unbeaten

Cover image courtesy of Ajay Berry (Race Images South)

New stakes winner for Written Tycoon

Written Tycoon continues to defy his age and on Wednesday, his 5-year-old mare Acquarello won the G3 Canterbury Breeders’ S. over 1400 metres. Ridden by Michael McNabb for trainer Tony Pike, Acquarello was sent to the front early and stayed there winning by 1.5l from Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Third Decree (NZ) (War Decree {USA}), with Anna Furlong trained Goldie’s Chance (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in third.

“She’s been competing in very strong Rating 75 races up north and this looked a good chance for her to get black type. I was sure she would run well and there’s still a fair bit of improvement to come deeper into the season,” Pike told Loveracing.nz. The win was her fourth from 12 starts and her first win at black type level and took her earnings above NZ$120,000.

“It looked like a race with no tempo, so Michael had the option to lead and they got it pretty soft. She’s a beautiful type of mare and she’s only going to get better, it’s exciting to have one like her.”

The win was satisfying for jockey Michael McNab who is just returning from injury. He fractured vertebrae in a fall in June. “She’s a beautiful mare and there didn’t look to be a lot of speed and she flew the lids,” McNab said. “She got into a nice rhythm and it was never in doubt, I thought she was the best mare in the race.”

Purchased by Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for $400,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from Sledmere Stud, Acquarello was bred by Rifa Mustang and is raced by Trelawney Stud. She becomes the 68th stakes winner for Written Tycoon.

Acquarello is the second foal and only winner for River Pebbles (Al Maher) who is a half-sister to Kulgrinda (Exceed And Excel) whose nine wins included four at stakes level, and River Pebbles is also a full sister to Listed Black Pearl S. winner River Delta. This is the family of Group 1 winner River Dove (Hurricane Sky), dam of successful sire Headwater, and first-season sire and Group 1 winner Captivant also features in this family.

Blanket finish in G3 TAB Mile makes for exciting racing

Margins of a head, a head, and a head covered the first three home in the G3 TAB Mile at Riccarton for a thrilling contest. Last season’s champion apprentice Lily Sutherland rode 7-year-old gelding Kopua (NZ) (Shocking) and lifted him over the line to win from Matscot (NZ) (Haradasun), ridden by Michael McNab who earlier won the G3 Canterbury Breeders’ S., and Perfect Scenario (NZ) (Iffraj {GB}). The trifecta was formed by three horses from the same 2017 crop in a strong result for showcasing the longevity of the thoroughbred.

“They have just been so supportive of me and it’s so good to ride a big winner for the family. We got squeezed up a bit early, but he travelled really well into the race,” Sutherland told Loveracing.nz.

Kopua has won two of his four starts this time in, and in total has eight wins from 31 starts with earnings over NZ$340,000. Bred by Maria Bloodstock, Kopua is part-owned by Kevin Myers and wasn’t seen at an auction as a young horse.

“It was a great ride by Lily to get over the top of them. It’s great for her to get a big race, Lily is an extremely hard worker and she’s just improving all the time,” trainer Kevin Myers’ son Jason told Loveracing.nz. “We thought $25 was well over the odds and we’d been quietly confident with him, he was very unlucky in the race last year.”

This was Kopua’s first stakes win and he becomes the 25th stakes winner for G1 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, whose four Group 1 winners include I’m Thunderstruck (NZ). Kopua is one of two winners for unplaced mare Kendall Marie (NZ) (Pins) who has been mediocre as a broodmare until now with five named foals for two winners, but a stakes winner lifts her status considerably. Kendall Marie is out of winning Lord Ballina mare Kilsheelan Marie (NZ), who is a full sister to G1 Winfield Classic (now the G1 Coolmore Classic) winner Acushla Marie (NZ) and Listed winner Clovelly Bay (NZ) (English Harbour {GB}). This is the family of Myers-trained G3 Cuddle S. winner Yanna Marie (NZ) (Lord Ballina).

Group target for unbeaten Cool Aza Rene

Te Akau Racing’s juvenile filly Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) remains unbeaten after winning at her second start at Riccarton on Wednesday. Trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, she was sent out the $1.30 favourite and delivered with a 0.75l win. She had to work for it with Miss Ziggy (NZ) (Brazen Beau) pushing her all the way and the two juveniles fought head and head for most of the straight with Cool Aza Rene pulling away at the post to win.

Third-placed Quisiera (NZ) (Sweynesse) was 2.25l further back with a neck to fourth placed Fourofus (NZ) (Tivaci {NZ}).

“She’s a nice filly and just loves being a racehorse,” Bergerson said. “She’s got plenty of condition for a young horse and hadn’t missed a beat since Otaki, she stuck her neck out and really tried hard.” She will likely head to next month’s G2 Wakefield Challenge S. at Trentham.

Cool Aza Rene was the first winner for first season sire Cool Aza Beel when she won on debut at her last start. She was a $55,000 purchase by David Ellis at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Newhaven Park.

“She’s the ultimate professional and behind the gates she was walking around like a kid’s pony. When she got to the front she was stargazing around a bit, but she was very good,” jockey Craig Grylls told Loveracing.nz.

The first foal of unraced mare Irene (Xtravagant {NZ}) whose second dam is Champion 2YO Filly and dual Group 1 winner Hasna (Snippets). Irene is a half-sister to G3 MVRC Champagne S.-placed Mintha (Redoute’s Choice) out of winning Encosta De Lago mare Hades.