Cover image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Race-day Recap
Home Affairs added his first stakes winner when Kinnaird won Thursday’s G2 Eclipse Stakes in New Zealand for Te Akau Racing. He will head to the R.Listed Karaka Million 2YO next.
The G2 Perth Cup was won by Lindsay Park trained Apulia (Fiorente {Ire}) who made it two in succession for his Western campaign.
Bob Peters added another G3 La Trice Classic to his trophy cabinet with Luvnwar (NZ) (War Decree {USA}), a mare he purchased out of New Zealand.
Joe Pride-trained King’s Secret (Shalaa {Ire}) won the Listed Canterbury Stakes on his march towards matching his Group 1 winning half-brother Private Eye (Al Maher).
Queen Zou become Zoustar’s 74th stakes winner when taking out the G2 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie for trainer Stephen Marsh.
Group quinella for Home Affairs
Te Akau Racing have won eight of the last nine editions of the R.Listed Karaka Millions 2YO and they have a strong contender with 2-year-old colt Kinnaird (Home Affairs) who won Thursday’s G2 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie. He becomes the first stakes winner for first season sire Home Affairs, who enjoyed the quinella with second placed Harvey Wallbanger (NZ). It was an all Australian-sired trifecta with Parfait Dimanche (Anders) coming home in third place.
“It was an Opie (Bosson) of old ride, that was a brilliant ride,” co-trainer Mark Walker said.
“He is still new, he is still green, he did a lot wrong, but the experience and the class of Opie got him through. We are on the right track. It was a nice win. He will go straight in (to the Karaka Millions).”
A winner on debut back at the end of November, Kinnaird is unbeaten in two starts and has earnings over NZ$150,000. Home Affairs now has three individual winners and four stakes horses from his first runners.
Mark Walker | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Sale info: Sold by Highview at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$340,000 to David Ellis.
Pedigree notes: Kinnaird is the third stakes winner of Orinda (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who previously produced G1 Australian Derby winner and sire Jon Snow (NZ) and Listed winner Princess Rhaenys (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) who won the Listed Gold Crown in track record time. Orinda hasn't had a live foal since Kinnaird and was covered by Wrote (Ire) in 2024 but no result has been recorded.
Orinda won twice and is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Mr Ubiquitous (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) while this is the family of triple Group 1 winner Solveig (NZ) (Imposing) who founded a dynasty that includes G1 Sydney Cup winner Gallic (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ})
Lindsay Park hoist the G2 Perth Cup with Apulia
Jointly owned by Lindsay Park Stud and Revelstone Stud, the Hayes-brothers-trained 5-year-old entire Apulia (Fiorente {Ire}) has been loving his time in Perth. Unplaced in the G1 Northerly Stakes on arrival, he settled in to win the G3 Ted Van Heemst Stakes last start before heading into Thursday’s G2 Perth Cup over 2400 metres.
Ridden by William Pike, Apulia bolted home by nearly three lengths from Brandon Fiore-trained Filthy Habits (I’m All The Talk) with Michael Grantham-trained Forever Boy (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) in third. Apulia took his record to six wins from 19 starts and over $1.8 million in earnings.
“What a thrill. It absolutely went to script and a perfect ride by Pike, he’s in red hot form,” said JD Hayes after the race.
“The way it panned out was absolutely perfect and great to see the horse show what he can do. He’s overcome so much. … He had 357 days off before this preparation and he’s come of age. This trip will be the making of him and he’ll have a fun autumn back in Melbourne.”
JD Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sale info: A homebred for Lindsay Park and Revelstone Stud.
Pedigree notes: One of 11 stakes winners for G1 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente (Ire), Apulia is the first foal of Giannarelli (High Chaparral {Ire}) whose 4-year-old mare Eyes Wide Shut (Pride Of Dubai) has won twice. She has an unraced 3-year-old filly by Nicconi and a yearling filly by Lucky Vega (Ire).
Giannarelli is a half-sister to stakes placed Spot The Rock (Fastnet Rock) out of G2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes-placed Can’t Hackit (NZ) (Fasliyev {USA}).
Consistent Luvnwar rewarded in G3 La Trice Classic
Trainer Michael Grantham and owner Bob Peters teamed up on Thursday to win the G3 La Trice Classic with consistent 5-year-old mare Luvnwar (NZ) (War Decree {USA}). Coming off a pair of Listed third placings this campaign, Luvnwar flew home down the outside for jockey Clint Johnston-Porter to reel in front runner Secret Attraction (NZ) (Savabeel) by a length. Admiration Express (My Admiration) was third. It was a fast run race, finishing in 1800 metres in 1:49.0.
“She’s one that Liam found. She’s had a bit of bad luck but today she was quite dominant,” said Peters, referring to his grandson Liam Peters who purchased Luvnwar privately out of New Zealand.
“Of the mare’s races, we thought this was the one she had the most chance in and she’s done the job for us. This might be her ceiling, there’s not much for her other than weight-for-age.”
Winner of the Listed Belmont Guineas at three, Luvnwar took her record to six wins from 17 starts with earnings over $430,000. She was a winner at her second start in New Zealand, then third in a Group 3 at her third start before being purchased privately by Peters Investments. She is one of three stakes winners for War Decree (USA) whose best in Group 1 winner Warmonger (NZ).
Liam Peters and Bob Peters | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Sale info: Sold by Beafort Downs at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale to Riversley Park for NZ$22,500.
Pedigree notes: A half-sister to Listed Southland Guineas winner Chokito (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}), Luvnwar is out of Pretty Woman (NZ) (Pins) who has a yearling full sister to Luvnwar and foaled a filly by Shinzo this spring. Chokito and Luvnwar are Pretty Woman’s only two live foals of racing age.
Pretty Woman is a daughter to Group 3 winner and G1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes-placed Howmuchyacharging (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit {USA}).
King’s Secret tough in winning Listed Canterbury Sprint
Joe Pride-trained King’s Secret (Shalaa {Ire}) has a long way to go to match his Group 1 winning half-brother and stablemate Private Eye (Al Maher), however, he took a strong step towards demonstrating a similar potential when winning Thursday’s Listed Canterbury Sprint.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained The Instructor (Russian Revolution) led the field with King’s Secret sitting on his outside, and the pair drew away from the rest of the field as they came into the home straight. In the end, it was King’s Secret who finished stronger in the solid battle, winning by one-third of a length from The Instructor. Richard Litt-trained Barber (Exceed And Excel) was third.
The 4-year-old gelding has been consistent, winning six of his 11 starts with earnings over $570,000.
Sale info: Sold by Goodwood Farm for $100,000 to Proven Thoroughbreds and Pride Racing at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Goodwood Farm announced on social media that Confidential Queen’s yearling filly by Anamoe would head to this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Pedigree notes: Confidential Queen (Shamardal {USA}) now has two stakes winners and all her five foals to race are winners. She is an unplaced half-sister to Group 3-placed King’s Troop (Redoute’s Choice). Confidential Queen’s city winning dam Royal Snippets (Royal Academy {USA}) is a half-sister to Champion Sire Snitzel.
Private Eye has won over $12.8 million from 14 victories and was second last start in the Supernova.
Queen Zou wins G2 Rich Hill Mile
Reigning Champion Australian Sire Zoustar rang up stakes winner number 74 when his 5-year-old mare Queen Zou dominated the G2 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie’s New Year’s Day meeting. The mare stalked the pace and flew home with the field spread wide across the track to record her first black type victory. Son Of Sun (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was second by one-third of a length with Checkmate (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) in third.
Trained by Stephen Marsh, and ridden by Matt Cartwright, Queen Zou was coming off a last start second at Group 2 level. “This is a race we wanted to win with her and I just loved how they put the pressure on so far out as she was just stalking (them),” Marsh said.
“She looked awesome beforehand and it is very exciting and rewarding for everyone. It means a lot to us as this is the first horse that Dylan (Johnson, racing manager) and I really stepped out and paid a lot of money for and we’re lucky we have such fantastic and loyal owners.
“I said to the owners that she walks around like a panther and Matt was confident (before the race), which is half the battle. It looks like the Thorndon Mile will be next for her.” The Thorndon Mile will run at Trentham on January 17.
Stephen Marsh | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Now the winner of five of her 17 starts with earnings over NZ$370,000, Queen Zou is raced by the Bourbon Lane Stable and partners. “She is such a beautiful, honest mare and one who is so deserving of a win like this,” Cartwright said.
Sale info: Sold by Vinery Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $650,000 to Stephen Marsh. Widden Stud will present her yearling full sister as Lot 158 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree notes: Placed in Europe, Queen Zou’s dam Lady Oracle (GB) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) is a half-sister to Listed winner Varda (Lonhro). Both Varda and Lady Oracle are also half-sisters to Yavanna (Redoute’s Choice), the dam of Group 1 winner and sire Kementari and his stakes winning half-siblings Silmarillion (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Telperion who also placed in the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes.
