Photo: Trish Dunell
Defibrillate (Shocking/Our Chickaroonie) is very much a stable favourite of Graham Richardson and he provided his co-breeder, part-owner and co-trainer with a hugely satisfying victory at Pukekohe Park on Tuesday.
The son of Shocking added to his record with a second-up success in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m) to become a black-type winner on both sides of the Tasman.
The sprightly eight-year-old has an impressive strike rate of 11 wins from 29 appearances and his will to win was well-emphasised with a hard-fought victory over The Mayor, also a former Australian black-type performer.
“That was an absolute thrill and well done to all my partners in the horse and the staff,” said Richardson, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall.
Defibrillate had settled back of midfield and one off the fence before rider Craig Grylls urged him forward 800m from home. After angling widest on the home turn, he produced a determined finish as he went out after tearaway leader Quiz Kid, who eventually faded to ninth.
The Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained The Mayor was a close second and his first show of form since relocating from Chris Waller’s stable with Demonetization taking third money.
Defibrillate will remain on a weight-for-age path in the immediate future with two attractive options on his radar.
“There’s the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m) and the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m), there are plenty of races around for him,” Richardson said.
Defibrillate was bred by his co-trainer with the McInteer family, who also share in the ownership group, and won two of his first three starts from Richardson’s stable before he joined Patrick Payne’s operation in Victoria where he did his connections proud.
He was twice successful in the Listed Mornington Cup Prelude (2000m) and in the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) before the red carpet was rolled out on his return to Matamata earlier this year.
Richardson subsequently targeted the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival with Defibrillate and principally the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).
However, his plans were severely disrupted by the weather-enforced abandonment of the middle day at Hastings and the rescheduling of the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) to Matamata.
Richardson was loath to run the gelding twice in seven days so made the bold decision to pitch Defibrillate first-up into the Livamol off a five-month break and he responded with a bold effort for third.
“I hadn’t done a lot with him since Hastings, just a bit of three-quarter pace. He had been off his tucker a little bit, but he came right in the last few days and I was pretty happy with him,” Richardson said.
Meanwhile, apprentice Niranjan Parmar bit the hand that feeds when he posted his first stakes win aboard Seajetz, who finished powerfully to claim top honours in the Listed Karaka Classic (1500m).
Parmar is apprenticed to Mark Walker, whose representative Self Obsession finished a close second with Awapuni visitor Old Town Road boxing on well for third after racing on the pace.
Trained by Paul Richards, Seajetz had won his previous start in Rating 75 company at Matamata and bridged the gap to stakes company in style.
The son of Iffraaj settled toward the back in the field and wound up strongly to down the favourite Self Obsession, who also rounded off well in the straight.
– NZ Racing Desk
