Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
New Zealand’s biggest ever race day has come and gone and may well be remembered as a watershed point in time for our industry.
Without racing there is no bloodstock industry and for too long we have languished behind the vibrancy of the Australian scene. Saturday changed all that and the realisation of that fact took place for the writer when departing Ellerslie, immediately after the last race was run.
Among the throng was a gentleman wearing a burgundy hat depicting the name ‘Evaporate’ and, curious, I asked him what was his connection with Evaporate. “I am a shareholder,” he replied. “So, you’ve had a pretty decent day,” I countered to which he came back with “We have had a magnificent day. I am just one of a 30-strong contingent supporting the three Australian runners and it has been a fabulous day. We will be back.”
I thanked him and he looked a little surprised but I assured him that we really appreciate the reverse traffic of Australians heading east to have a crack at our biggest day. It’s been a long time coming and maybe, just maybe, things will only continue to grow from here. Saturday was most certainly a wonderful start.
The course itself was resplendent and in places the crowd was shoulder-to-shoulder. It reminded the writer of racing in the 60s and 70s when people needed to queue up for the tote. Technology has made that unnecessary but people still have to queue for food and drink and the waits were long. The waits were long because the people were back and how refreshing was that?
There’s no stopping him
Our leading studs can look back on “Champions Day” with much pride. Waikato Stud, Rich Hill Stud, Cambridge Stud and Westbury Stud shared the highlights at Ellerslie yet there simply is no denying the massive and continuing influence of Savabeel (Zabeel) who, not for the first time, stood head and shoulders above the New Zealand stallion roster.
His day began in earnest when Provence (Savabeel) secured her second Group 1 success of the season when taking out the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) and in winning she didn’t have everything go her way. At the top of the straight she had to pull widest when making her run and was giving the warm favourite, Legarto (Proisir), a good two lengths start. Legarto had a narrow lead at the 100-metre mark but Provence wore her down then fought off a determined Jaarffi (Iffraaj) in the final strides. You have to admire Provence’s tenacity. She never stops trying.
The five-year-old took four starts to break her maiden but since then has added five more wins, the Breeders’ Stakes prize taking her earnings beyond $800,000.
Her younger sister, Damask Rose (Savabeel) stepped into the limelight three races later to score the big one, the race upon which the entire day was centred, The NZB Kiwi (Listed, 1500m) and what a sensation she caused. Most of the pre-race talk surrounded the Australian raiders Evaporate (Per Incanto), Public Attention (Written Tycoon) and Perfumist (El Roca) with Evaporate particularly warm at $2.40. By start time Damask Rose took over second favouritism but once the field left the stalls she dawdled out and was a clear last before they left the back straight. As the field entered the home straight her supporters would have had their hearts in their mouths. Still a clear last, Blake Shinn waited and remained glued to the rail. All were wanting a look at the run home and the field fanned wider leaving a huge gap for Damask Rose but she still had every runner to pass. From the 300 metres she produced her well known turn of foot and near the 200m she had just one to pass. At the 100 metres she was in front and from there extended her lead to make a difficult win look relatively easy.
Damask Rose loves Ellerslie. As a juvenile she was second (at only her second raceday start) in the Karaka Millions 2YO (RL, 1200m) and this season returned to headquarters to demolish a good field in the Karaka Millions 3YO (RL, 1600m) which was only her sixth raceday appearance. The NZB Kiwi’s $1.2 million first prize took her earnings to $2.22 million. This represents a super return on the $200,000 outlaid for her by David Ellis at the 2023 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale from Tony Rider’s Milan Park.
Rider bred the filly who is the third foal from his Flying Spur (Danehill) mare Sombreuil whose second foal is Provence (Savabeel) making her one the premier mares in the New Zealand Stud Book. Rider sold a sister to them both at the 2024 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale and the purchaser, canny agent Phill Cataldo, will have cause to be rather pleased with himself. He found the now two-year-old sister for the same $200,000 that Ellis outlaid. Sombreuil, a daughter of Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Te Akau Rose (Thorn Park), produced a Super Seth (Dundeel) colt last spring and, in no surprise, returned to Savabeel. No doubt Rider will be hoping for another filly.
Catch a breath
Waikato Stud barely had time to breathe when 45 minutes after the NZB Kiwi Savabeel’s Jedibeel impressed the Randwick patrons with a sprint victory in the Challenge Stakes (Gr 2, 1000m). Jedibeel’s form has only been over sprint distances and Saturday’s Group 2 was his eighth win in 18 career starts. This win, following a last start win in the Razor Sharp Stakes (Listed, 1200m), was fresh up after nine weeks and he scored with some authority. His position (back on rails) at the 300 metres did not look promising but he found a tight run at the 150m and speared through to take over at the 50 metres from where he ran clear.
What looks a little odd regarding Jedibeel is that his older brother, Starrybeel (Savabeel), was an out-and-out stayer. His six wins were between 1600 metres and 2200 metres plus he placed second in the Wellington Cup (Gr 3, 3200m), second in the Waikato Cup (Gr 3, 2400m) and fourth in the New Zealand Cup (Gr 3, 3200m).
Jedibeel had two visits to the sale ring, was sold as a weanling for $35,000 in New Zealand then pinhooked at $190,000 at the 2021 Wm Inglis Classic Sale.
Savabeel’s day was not yet complete as four hours later his Captain Pluto (Savabeel) took Savabeel’s individual stakes winners total to 151 with a win in the Bunbury Cup (Listed, 2019m). The five-year-old, who was passed in when offered by Rich Hill Stud at the 2021 NZB Karaka Yearling Sales, began his career with Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young in Victoria, landing two wins before he headed to West Australia. From Grant and Alana Williams’ stable he has added four more wins and his bank account exceeds $350,000.
The follow through
As if Waikato Stud’s day could not get any better, the result of the Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) would be the cream on the top. Just a week ago Super Seth (Dundeel) broke through with his first Group 1 winner which had Mark Chittick ecstatic as Feroce (Super Seth) took out the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m). An Australian Group 1 means the world when it comes to commercial status as a stallion, especially for a young stallion.
Racking up a second Group 1 courtesy of Linebacker’s win in the Randwick Guineas merely underlines Super Seth’s potential. Keep in mind that these two represent his first crop and in his second is the best two-year-old filly in New Zealand, La Dorada. Saturday, the letter was scratched the morning of Ellerslie’s Sistema Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) due to a spiked temperature but will remain in training and is headed for the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m).
Although Public Attention (Written Tycoon) was sent east for the NZB Kiwi the Randwick Guineas field still contained the warm favourite Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot). Linebacker had the job of dragging the field forward to catch the pacemaker before taking over at the 300 metres, allowing Broadsiding the drop. To Linebacker’s credit, he accepted the challenge but dug in and would not let Broadsiding past in a determined effort.
A Rosehill Group 3 winner at two, Linebacker had to bow to Broadsiding in the 2024 Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) and much was expected of him last spring. This year his second to Public Attention in the Eskimo Prince Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) suggested he was close to his best until he got too far out of his ground in a disappointing Hobartville Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m). The 1600 metres suited and he must now be a leading contender for the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) and, beyond that, the Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m).
Not forgetting…..
Westbury Stud’s Tarzino (Tavistock) sired the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Willydoit and Rich Hill Stud’s Shocking (Street Cry) sired Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner El Vencedor meaning that sire honours were spread around.
Now six starts for four wins, Willydoit marked Tarzino’s third Group 1 classic winner following South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) victor Jungle Magnate and Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Gypsy Goddess. Willydoit’s dam showed little or nothing on the racetrack but his granddam, Portland Singa (Danasinga) may be part of the reason for his talent and staying ability as she succeeded eight times up to 3200 metres including the Brisbane Cup (Gr 1, 3200m). Let’s hope Willydoit starts in the Australian Derby. If so, he’ll have a big chance.
El Vencedor continued on his winning way and is now headed for Hong Kong. He has been a revelation this year scoring three successive Group 1s and is fast becoming the people’s favourite. His fight with top class racemare La Crique (Vadamos) was perhaps the best finish of the day while he bagged his fourth Group 1. It certainly had the crowd on its feet.
Cambridge Stud’s Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) sired the Auckland Cup (Gr 2, 3200m) winner Trav whose record now stands at six wins in 25 starts. Trav’s fourth in the recent Wellington Cup (Gr 3, 3200m) stood him in good stead for the Auckland version but he had to stave off the internationally-bred stayers Tajanis (Australia) and Interpretation (Galileo) to do it.
Last week, Kiwi Chronicles detailed the family of Dunedin Gold Cup (Listed, 2400m) winner Loftys Gift (Ghibellines). Trav is another from this family which features Princess Mellay (Mellay) and her triple Group 1 winning son Prince Majestic (Noble Bijou). Trav’s granddam Royal Princess (Seasoned Star) and Loftys Gift’s granddam Laura Dee (Personal Escort) are half-sisters. They are daughters of Lal’s Gift, a sister to Prince Majestic.
