New Year's Day summary: Too Sweet lives up to her name with flawless Eclipse victory, eyes Karaka Millions next

Cover image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Easy win for Too Sweet in G2 Eclipse Stakes

Ridden by Michael McNab, 2-year-old filly Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) jumped well and dictated the pace in the G2 Eclipse S. at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. She cruised away from the field at the 300-metre mark to win by 1.5l from Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson trained La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) with Allan Sharrock trained Almakeitgood (NZ) (Ardrossan) 0.2l further back in third. Second and third were game in defeat as they chased down Too Sweet, but the Roydon Bergerson-trained filly was too strong.

“There is nothing much better in racing than when you win a race for your son, the leading trainer in New Zealand,” Bergerson said. His son, Sam is the co-trainer of second placed La Dorada and shares in the ownership of Too Sweet.

“She won pretty well and is a good horse with a good brain on her. Michael took the initiative, as our plan was to drop in behind them, but she flew the gate and that was it. I think she is as good as Wolverine as she has a great turn of foot and probably has a better brain all around.” Bergerson trained Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci) to win the 2022 G2 Eclipse S. and she went on to run second in the R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO at her next start. Last year’s winner Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) has improved at three this season, and in 2021, a very good mare by the name of Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) won this race.

“Sam can take over now as we will leave her at Te Akau where she will go out on the water walker for a week and then bring her back here in three weeks.” The R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO is on January 25 at this same venue.

Purchased by Chris Rutten Bloodstock (BAFNZ) for NZ$50,000 from Phoenix Park’s draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Too Sweet now has two wins and a second from three starts with earnings over NZ$164,000. Rutten won the R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO with Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}) in 2014.

This was the first win for Too Sweet in stakes company. Her sire Satono Aladdin (Jpn) sired Champion 2YO Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) in his first crop and the gelding won the R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO, but it is dual Group 1 winner Pennyweka (NZ) who is the best of Satono Aladdin’s eight stakes winners. Too Sweet is, to date, the only runner from the 42 live foals in Satono Aladdin’s current crop of juveniles.

Too Sweet is the first winner for unraced mare Sparkling Rose (NZ) (Bernardini {USA}) who has a yearling full sister to the Group 2 winner. Brighthill Farm will offer her as Lot 855 at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. Too Sweet is the first stakes winner for three generations, but her fourth dam is G1 Australasian Oaks winner Grand Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), dam of Group 1 winner and sire Darci Brahma (NZ) and Group 3 winner and sire Burgundy (NZ).

Real Class now the Oaks favourite

Trainer Jenna Mahoney’s 3-year-old filly Real Class (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) has firmed into favouritism for the G1 NZ Oaks after a strong 0.75l win in the G2 Sir Patrick Hogan S. at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. She settled midfield for jockey Rory Hutchings, then came wide around the turn to gallop free of the field with fast-finishing Darryn and Briar Weatherley trained Bella Montagna (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) in second, and another 1l back to Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie trained Island Life (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) in third.

“It was a top ride from Rory. It is nice to have another handy one in the stable. She should love the 2400 metres, the further she goes the better she will get I think,” said Mahoney who races the filly with her partner Grant Dixon. Real Class was a private purchase from breeder Greg Tomlinson who bred her under his Nearco Stud brand.

“Because we had a lot to do with the family, we got offered her to carry on with and we decided to give her a go off Gordon Cunningham from Curraghmore. There has been a fair bit of interest from Australia, so we will see what happens.”

Real Class has now won two of her four starts and was third in the G2 Eight Carat Classic last start with earnings over NZ$190,000. She becomes the seventh stakes winner for Vadamos (Fr), whose best is Group 1 winner La Crique (NZ).

The fifth winner for Listed Sunline Vase winner Mill Duckie (NZ) (Magic Ring {Ire}) who placed in the G1 Thorndon Mile and G1 NZ Oaks, Real Class is a half-sister to stakes placed pair of High Class (NZ) (Shocking) and Righteous Mate (NZ) (Savabeel). Mahoney trained High Class who won twice and placed in the Listed Soliloquy S. Mill Duckie has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Shocking and yearling filly by Reliable Man (GB). This is the family of G3 Wellington S. winner Steineck (NZ) (Fiesta Star).

Consistent Bourbon Empress wins the G2 Rich Hill Mile

Stephen Marsh trained 4-year-old mare Bourbon Empress (NZ) (Proisir) was rewarded for her consistency with a win in Ellerslie’s G2 Rich Hill Mile in her first crack at stakes class. Ridden by Matt Cartwright, Bourbon Empress won by 0.8l from Lance Noble trained Jaarfii (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}). It was another 1.2l back to Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott trained Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) in third, with the winner’s stablemate Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) in fourth.

“That was ultra satisfying as we were worried about her wide draw (12), although you then get Provence who was drawn on the fence (1) and didn’t get any luck. She was three wide with cover and when she came out you could see she was going to finish it off. That race (the Stella Artois Final) has been a great race for us as a lead-up and she has run really well today and will keep improving,” said Marsh.

“She loves it here at Ellerslie and there is a nice race for her here on Karaka Millions night, so she can have a wee breather and come back for that.” Marsh refers to the NZ$1 million Aotearoa Classic over 1600 metres for 4-year-olds on January 25.

Bourbon Empress has four wins and four placings from 10 starts with earnings over NZ$282,000. Champion New Zealand Sire Proisir now has 21 stakes winners, led by six Group 1 winners. Bourbon Empress was purchased by her trainer for NZ$80,000 at the 2022 NZB National Yearling Sale from Highline Thoroughbreds.

One of five winners for Amiga Mia (Conatus), Bourbon Empress is a full sister to G2 Waikato Guineas-placed Pimlico (NZ) who now races in Hong Kong as Mr Escamillo. Amiga Mia has a 3-year-old filly Ali Nel (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) who placed on debut at two, and Amiga Mia has missed for the last two seasons so has no yearling or foal.

Amiga Mia’s juvenile-winning dam Amistosa (Encosta De Lago) is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Saint Minerva (Galileo {Ire}), the dam of 2022 G3 Ken Russell S. winner Nettuno (I Am Invincible). This is the family of West Australian sire Universal Ruler.

Double for Cartwright with G3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup win

One race after winning the G2 Rich Hill Mile, jockey Matt Cartwright made it a group double aboard Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley trained 5-year-old gelding Son Of Sun (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in the G3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Sitting mid-field for most of the 2400 metre journey, Son Of Sun was 5l off the leader at the turn, but accelerated past the field to win by 0.3l from front-runner Darryn and Briar Weatherley trained Arby (NZ) (Proisir) with Conor and Sarah Fahy trained Let Fly (NZ) (Raise The Flag {GB}) in third.

“He won well, he is a good stayer and hopefully he carries on with it. I think he is going to be a little bit better in six months. I know he is a 5-year-old, but he is a slow-maturing horse, and he has come along very well,” said Cooksley.

“He is nominated (for the Auckland Cup), but we will see what happens.” The G2 Auckland Cup over two miles is run on Champions Day in March. The win was the second in succession for the training partnership in this race, having won it last year with Trust In You (NZ) (Sweynesse) who went on to run in this year’s G1 Melbourne Cup.

Son Of Sun has won three of his past four starts and in total has six wins from 18 starts with earnings over NZ$330,000. Bred by Malway Farm, Son of Sun was purchased by Baiquing Sun out of Cambridge Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for NZ$65,000. He was taken to the NZB Ready To Run Sale, offered by Regal Farm, but passed in, and is raced by Sun under his New Zealand Gingkosun Investment Ltd banner.

He becomes stakes winner number 53 for Tavistock (NZ), and is one of six winners for unraced mare Smoothing (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) whose 4-year-old full sister to Son Of Sun is G3 Western Australian Oaks-placed Flash Of Dallas (NZ). Her last foal is an unraced 3-year-old filly by U S Navy Flag (USA). Smoothing’s dam Satin ‘n’ Silk (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) has produced two stakes placed winners and is a full sister to G3 Adrian Knox S. winner Sybeel (NZ) and Listed Morphettville Guineas winner Chamoix (NZ).

Miraval Rose wins Listed Kensington Stakes

Grunt (NZ) 4-year-old mare Miraval Rose won her second Listed race in the New Year’s Day Listed Kensington S. at Flemington for trainer Grahame Begg. Ridden by Craig Williams, she worked nicely into the lead and had to dig deep to hold on from the fast-finishing Charlotte Littlefield trained 4-year-old gelding Modown (Toronado {Ire}) to win by 0.35l with Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained 4-year-old mare Roll On High (Shamus Award) in third.

“We were very confident today, she took a huge amount of improvement from her first-up run into her second, and then again into her third. She was incredibly unlucky last start to sit three-deep, and she was still really tough to the line. She’s improved a heap off of that condition wise, we’ve been really happy with her,” said stable representative Rebecca Shanks. No plans were given for her next start.

Previously the winner of the Listed Twilight Glow S. last season at three - a win that was her last time in the winner’s circle - Miraval Rose took her career to three wins and four placings from 10 starts with earnings over $330,000. Sold by Yulong at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $250,000, she was purchased by her trainer and Rohan Hughes.

One of two stakes winners for Grunt, the other being Group 1 winner Veight, Miraval Rose is the second stakes winner for her dam Gypsy Tucker (Zabeel {NZ}), whose first foal is G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic winner Gypsy Diamond (Not A Single Doubt) who placed in the G1 Queen of the Turf S. Gypsy Tucker was a winner over 1350 metres and is a half-sister to R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO-placed Silk Pins (NZ) (Pins) and to winner Darook Park (Darci Brahma {NZ}), the dam of G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Finance Tycoon (Written Tycoon). Gypsy Tucker has a yearling colt by Lucky Vega (Ire).

Cup chances for Bagot quinella

Jockey Zac Spain sat just in behind the lead on Jason Warren trained 5-year-old gelding Grand Pierro (Pierro) in the Listed Bagot H. and dived through a gap to win by 0.75l from Ciaron Maher trained Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) with Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald trained Mormona (Fr) (Morandi {Fr}) 2.5l away in third.

“I thought the horse had put the score on the board at Pakenham… he was exposed at the top of the straight and he was very game in defeat,” Warren said, referring to Grand Pierro’s last start second in the Listed Pakenham Cup.

“We came here with the plan to cover him up as long as we could and Zac executed that perfectly, we didn’t have a plan B. Halfway up the straight, I thought, ‘geez, he hasn’t even released the brakes yet’.

“Obviously it’s a prestigious race (the Bagot), and a qualifying race for the (Melbourne) Cup. We’d like to take him to Adelaide and see how well he runs the 3200 metres when we prepare him for it. I think we’ll be freshening him and then heading to Adelaide.”

Meanwhile, second placed Interpretation may head to New Zealand for the G3 Wellington Cup. This was the fourth career win for Grand Pierro, who won the Listed Geelong Classic as a 3-year-old and won the Ararat Gold Cup last spring. Last summer he ran third in both the G3 Hobart Cup and G3 Launceston Cup before failing in the G2 Adelaide Cup.

His 27 starts have earned him just over $510,000 and he was a $50,000 purchase by Grand Syndicates and John Price Bloodstock from Collingrove Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. One of 38 stakes winners for Pierro, he is the only stakes winner among five winners for G3 WW Cockram S.-placed Le Societe (Anabaa {USA}) who is a half-sister to recent Group 1 winner Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). Their dam is Listed New Zealand St Leger winner Ritzy Lady (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

Baker’s good spring continues with Iowna Merc

Trainer Bjorn Baker is on fire and his stable continued the streak with 5-year-old gelding Iowna Merc (Winning Rupert) taking out the Listed Canterbury Sprint on New Year’s Day. Ridden by Ashley Morgan, Iowna Merc stayed wider than the bunch to close quickly on the line and win by 0.31l from the hard-fighting James Cummings trained Pereille (Fastnet Rock) with Kris Lees trained Brudenell (Russian Revolution) in third. There were several hard luck stories in the field, so it might be one for punters to watch again and black book.

“It was a great win last start, and we thought he’d be up against it to maybe back it up here. The horse is going well,” said stable representative Luke Hilton.

“It’s an amazing association (with Darby Racing) and let’s hope it continues into 2025.”

Iowna Merc was coming off a last start win in Sydney and all up has six wins from nineteen starts with earnings over $660,000. Second in the Listed Bob Charley S. in April this year, this was Iowna Merc’s first stakes win and he becomes the fifth stakes winner for Winning Rupert who transferred to West Australia this year.

Bred by Scott Darby, who purchased Iowna Merc’s dam Mercedes (Snitzel) for $5,500 at the 2018 Inglis Digital May Sale, he sold her again in 2022 via Inglis Digital for $4,750 to Snow View Park and she unfortunately died in June 2023.

Mercedes has produced three winners including Iowna Merc’s 3-year-old full sister Iowna Benz, and Mercedes is a half-sister to Listed winner Divine Centuri (I Am Invincible).