Cover image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Ardrossan 2-year-old De Armas (NZ) showed that her arrogant win at Otaki in late September was no fluke, with an impressive victory in the NZ$110,000 Listed Counties Challenge Stakes for trainer Johno Benner at Pukekohe last Saturday.
With earnings already of just over NZ$86,000 from an initial NZ$16,000 outlay, she could expand that profit significantly and turn herself into a valuable filly if she lives up to her trainer's lofty opinion.
Stakes winning product of the NZB National Online Yearling Sale - just like Well Written
The New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale was a newcomer to the sales series via Gavelhouse in 2021, when a catalogue of 49 yearlings was put through the online ring.
Momentum is already building around the sale, with graduates achieving multiple successes on the racetrack. These include the unbeaten and recent G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Well Written (Written Tycoon) and the 2024 G2 Eight Carat Classic winner Hitabell (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}).
Bought by Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for a sale-topping $80,000 from Brighthill Farm’s 2024 National Online Yearling Sale draft, Well Written has now had three starts for three impressive victories. Marsh now has his sights set on the NZ$4 million R. Listed NZB The Kiwi with the extremely talented and un-tapped filly that is now part-owned by Yulong.
The latest stakes-winning graduate is De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) who was purchased by Benner Racing for NZ$16,000 from the Elsdon Park draft.
When asked about Elsdon Park putting the filly through the online sale, Kerrie Cox, Elsdon Park General Manager, said, “Initially our intention was to keep what the mare left as we bought the mare in foal to Ardrossan and if a colt, look to trade either as a ready to runner or through the trials.
“We were undecided with a filly as she probably wasn’t going to make Book 1 or 2, and if we kept her, to become a broodmare for our band she would have to claim black-type which is not easy to do, even though she just has.
Kerrie Cox | Image courtesy of Elsdon Park
“So we put her online. It is awesome to see her have success as it is good for our brand, and we want our horses to have success and people coming back to buy horses from Elsdon Park.
“There is serious value through that sale. Look at Well Written and this filly; if you are looking for a racehorse, you can find one there.”
A stakes double for Ardrossan with Elsdon Park links
The young Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan has made a very promising start to his stud career from humble beginnings. That success continued on Saturday as Elsdon Park-sold De Armas won the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes. Meanwhile, Ardalio (NZ), bred and owned by JML Bloodstock, which is Lib Petagna’s banner, secured her third Group 3 victory in the G3 Counties Bowl.
Petagna has held a racing share in the Listed and Group 3-winning son of Redoute’s Choice and remains in the ownership group of the stallion with Waikato Stud.
“We love him, he leaves a really good sort and we’ve done exceptionally well. Last year, we averaged about $120,000 from all our Ardrossans,” Cox said.
“We supported him with some really nice mares and have been rewarded with not only good sales results, but horses that can really run.”
Ardrossan has now produced seven stakes winners from only 85 runners, giving him a stakes winners-to-runners ratio of 8.2% and a stakes performers-to-runners ratio of 14.1%. These results have come from mares that started with a NZ$4000 plus GST service fee.
The son of Redoute’s Choice served 406 mares in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons, making the future look bright, and giving him every opportunity to kick-on with a higher quantity of mares as well as quality.
Listed Challenge Stakes glory
Any race is a good race to win, particularly a stakes race, and especially one that sets a horse up as an early favourite for a feature Karaka Million 2-year-old race - a dream target for owners and trainers.
For trainer Johno Benner, the win was a big moment but he kept his feet on the ground.
Johno Benner | Image courtesy of Race Images
“It was only a Listed win, but 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds and qualifying for those Millions races is something that appeals to me.
“It was very satisfying. I don’t get too nervous these days, stay pretty relaxed, but it’s fair to say I was a little twitchy on Saturday.
“She has to keep stepping up but she is very exciting, and it was a very satisfying win that takes her to one of the early favourites for the Karaka Million, which I would love to win again.”
How Benner purchased the filly
Being purchased from an online sale raises questions about the buying process compared to traditional sales such as the NZB Karaka National Sale. Benner explained that it was quite different, relying heavily on trust in good vendors.
De Armas (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“I sat on the couch as you do, just scrolling through catalogues. I usually buy two or three each year, and I only picked up two at the yearling sales so I was quite keen to pick up one more.
“I’ve always liked Ardrossan, he’s been kicking some goals and going really well. I liked the fact that the dam won her first two starts. I like Rip Van Winkle as a broodmare sire, so a few things lined up.
“I actually didn’t go look at her, but I liked her videos which are so good these days. I liked the way she moved and Elsdon Park are a great farm.
“I actually didn’t go look at her (De Armas), but I liked her videos which are so good these days, I liked the way she moved and Elsdon Park are a great farm.” - Johno Benner
“Her x-rays and scope were all good, and I rang up Kerrie Cox, who is straight up, and she said simply, she is a nice type, you won’t be disappointed when she comes off the truck - and I wasn’t.
“I actually nearly had her for NZ$8000 or NZ$9000, but I was probably prepared to go to around NZ$25,000. To pick her up for NZ$16,000, I was pretty happy.”
A beautiful type with a touch of pedigree
The filly’s type stood out to Benner, and Cox confirmed it, though she is not totally without pedigree. She is the fifth foal out of the dual-winning mare Regal Winks (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), who is a half-sister to Listed-placed Iffragal (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and out of the stakes-placed Regal Thrills (Royal Academy).
Other family stakes winners include Extreme Warrior, Adaline (Court Of Jewels {NZ}), Thrillster (Starspangledbanner), Gotta Have Heart (Show A Heart), and Crossyourheart (NZ) (Show A Heart), who actually won the same race back in 2006.
“She was a beautiful filly that just lacked a bit of page close-up, a cracking type, nice and athletic, but with a good brain, nice and calm and relaxed,” Cox said.
“She (De Armas) was a beautiful filly that just lacked a bit of page close-up, a cracking type, nice and athletic, but with a good brain, nice and calm and relaxed.” - Kerrie Cox
“Johno Benner rang me up before purchasing her and said what do you reckon, and I told him you won’t be disappointed when she comes off the truck, she is a smasher.
“He got her quite cheaply, but well done to him. At that sale, you are buying on type as the pedigrees are a bit lighter, but she was a good sort.”
The path to Ellerslie
Straight after the race, Benner floated the idea that the filly could go straight into the Karaka Million without another run. However, he explained that a Group 2 race at Trentham would be ideal first.
“I have had a good study and think that I will trust my thinking and run in the G2 Wakefield Stakes at Trentham on December 20. She is currently at Highden Park, in a beautiful paddock. I think Libby (Libby Bleakley) can see her from her kitchen window, so she will spend seven days there.
Libby Bleakley | Image courtesy of Highden Park
“On reflection, I think it’s silly to pass up the opportunity of a Group 2 race that is only 45 minutes down the road with Transmission Gully now from my Otaki base. A Group 2 on my favourite track looks ideal, and it doesn’t mean an extra trip up to Ellerslie, especially if we have thoughts of a Group 1 there later in the season, or even a Matamata Breeders’.
“That then gives a beautiful five weeks to the big one, all going well, so that looks ideal to me.”
Pressure is a privilege
Benner is no stranger to success in big races, having been the first trainer to win both the 2-year-old and 3-year-old R. Listed Karaka Millions, with Vespa in 2014 and Scott Base (NZ) (Dalghar {Fr}) in the 3-year-old event in 2018.
He takes a relaxed approach now, after a short break from training due to burnout.
“There is nothing wrong with a bit of pressure, pressure is a privilege. It means you have a good horse and you just have to eat it up.
“There is nothing wrong with a bit of pressure, pressure is a privilege. It means you have a good horse and you just have to eat it up.” - Johno Benner
“You only learn from your mistakes and you may not even know they were at the time. Training 2-year-olds is a fine art. I have had quite a few run in the Millions, some haven’t been good enough to win, but have done well qualifying. This filly is good enough to win - well, I’m hoping so anyway.”
