Waikato Stud-bred three-year-old Metal Bender (Danasinga-Jacqwin) has now claimed two legs of the Australian 3YO Triple Crown, after winning the Group One Dubai Rosehill Guineas (2000 metres) at Rosehill last Saturday, two weeks after winning the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600metres).
He will now be a leading contender for the Group One AJC Derby on April 11 and if successful, will be the only three-year-old since the mighty Octagonal to achieve this feat.
It's no surprise that he has achieved this success according to Waikato Stud's Mark Chittick as he was always a lovely colt with a great nature and a horse you could do anything with. His laid back nature is indicative of his racing style and the 2400 metres of the Derby distance looks well within his range.
Metal Bender is the fourth foal of the Bluebird mare Jacqwin, herself a winner in Hong Kong and a half sister to the successful Cambridge Stud stallion Keeper (Danehill). This is also the family of the Te Runga Stud stallion Castledale (Peintre Celebre).
"Jacqwin is one of the ten or so mares that we bought from the Potter group when they got out of breeding around eight or nine years ago. She was probably the pick of the bunch on pedigree and from memory she had a three-week-old Zabeel foal at foot and had just been served by Zabeel again when we purchased her", said Mark.
"The first Zabeel was Southern Venture who won two and was stakes-placed in Sydney. She has since gone to stud in Australia. The second was Blessed, who we kept and raced - she won three races for Peter Moody in Australia, but is back in work here with Jeanann Hercock at the moment.
"Metal Bender was her next foal. He is from the last New Zealand crop of Danasinga, then she went to Savabeel and produced Moment to Savour who is with Peter Moody in Melbourne. She has a Savabeel weanling colt and is in foal to O'Reilly and as she is 16 now, we would really like her to produce another filly to keep, especially by O'Reilly.
"We have had a quite a bit of success with some of the mares we bought in that package from the Potter's. River Century (Centaine – Riverlette) was one that we bred and bought back, she has left the Group One winners Legs and Guyno and Cenphic (Centaine –Seraphic) has left Irlanda (O'Reilly) who won six races including the Group Two NRM Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes.
"It's really good to get a dual group one winner in Sydney especially before the sales as we have seven yearlings to sell there this year. Metal Bender was sold in Sydney also and we usually take horses to that sale whose families have performed well there or whose families we want to promote in Sydney," concluded Mark.
Metal Bender is the fourth individual Group One winner for the season for Waikato Stud. He joins Alamosa (O'Reilly – Lodore Mystic), Swick (O'Reilly – Crème Anglaise) and Dafodil (No Excuse Needed – Spring) who can also lay claim to the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year title as well.
- Michelle Saba
He will now be a leading contender for the Group One AJC Derby on April 11 and if successful, will be the only three-year-old since the mighty Octagonal to achieve this feat.
It's no surprise that he has achieved this success according to Waikato Stud's Mark Chittick as he was always a lovely colt with a great nature and a horse you could do anything with. His laid back nature is indicative of his racing style and the 2400 metres of the Derby distance looks well within his range.
Metal Bender is the fourth foal of the Bluebird mare Jacqwin, herself a winner in Hong Kong and a half sister to the successful Cambridge Stud stallion Keeper (Danehill). This is also the family of the Te Runga Stud stallion Castledale (Peintre Celebre).
"Jacqwin is one of the ten or so mares that we bought from the Potter group when they got out of breeding around eight or nine years ago. She was probably the pick of the bunch on pedigree and from memory she had a three-week-old Zabeel foal at foot and had just been served by Zabeel again when we purchased her", said Mark.
"The first Zabeel was Southern Venture who won two and was stakes-placed in Sydney. She has since gone to stud in Australia. The second was Blessed, who we kept and raced - she won three races for Peter Moody in Australia, but is back in work here with Jeanann Hercock at the moment.
"Metal Bender was her next foal. He is from the last New Zealand crop of Danasinga, then she went to Savabeel and produced Moment to Savour who is with Peter Moody in Melbourne. She has a Savabeel weanling colt and is in foal to O'Reilly and as she is 16 now, we would really like her to produce another filly to keep, especially by O'Reilly.
"We have had a quite a bit of success with some of the mares we bought in that package from the Potter's. River Century (Centaine – Riverlette) was one that we bred and bought back, she has left the Group One winners Legs and Guyno and Cenphic (Centaine –Seraphic) has left Irlanda (O'Reilly) who won six races including the Group Two NRM Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes.
"It's really good to get a dual group one winner in Sydney especially before the sales as we have seven yearlings to sell there this year. Metal Bender was sold in Sydney also and we usually take horses to that sale whose families have performed well there or whose families we want to promote in Sydney," concluded Mark.
Metal Bender is the fourth individual Group One winner for the season for Waikato Stud. He joins Alamosa (O'Reilly – Lodore Mystic), Swick (O'Reilly – Crème Anglaise) and Dafodil (No Excuse Needed – Spring) who can also lay claim to the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year title as well.
- Michelle Saba
