G1 Sistema Railway, NZ$200,000, 1200m
Race summary
A fresh Avantage (Fastnet Rock) underlined her abundant class when she successful resumed to post the fifth Group 1 victory of her career.
Unraced since second in the G1 Livamol Classic, the 5-year-old was given a perfect rider behind the leader by Opie Bosson and the mare did the rest with an irresistible finish in the straight.
Defending champion Julius (NZ) (Swiss Ace) made the pace and he boxed on gamely to finish second and the favourite Levante (NZ) (Proisir) came from last on the turn for third.
Pedigree notes
Avantage is one of 40 individual worldwide winners for Fastnet Rock and she was bred by Willy and Karen Calder.
She was offered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by The Oaks Stud and knocked down to Te Akau’s David Ellis for NZ$210,000.
Avantage is the third winner for Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), successful at Listed level, and she is a half-sister to the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup winner D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}). Their dam Pins ‘N’ Needles (NZ) (Pins) won the G3 White Robe Lodge H. and finished second in the G1 Thorndon Mile.
G2 Barneswood Farm Eclipse S., NZ$100,000, 1200m
Race Summary
Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) kept her unbeaten record in style when she again displayed her tenacious nature.
A winner on a heavy track at Otaki on debut, she struck a much firmer surface and handled it with aplomb for trainer Jamie Richards and jockey Danielle Johnson.
Imperatriz raced one off the fence with the leaders in her sights and she finished determinedly to down the previously unbeaten Stormy (NZ) (Telperion). They had the finish to themselves with the favourite and winner’s stablemate Sword Of State (Snitzel) back in third.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Raffles Dancers, Imperatriz was bought by Te Akau chief David Ellis out of Bhima Thoroughbreds’ draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $360,000.
Yet another Group winner for Yarraman Park Stud’s champion resident I Am Invincible, the filly is a daughter of the juvenile winner and G2 Moonee Valley Fillies’ Classic placegetter Berimbau (Shamardal {USA}).
She is out of a half-sister to the G2 Todman Slipper Trial S. winner Royal Courtship (Royal Academy {USA}) with his close relation G3 AAMI S. winner Poor Judge (Royal Academy {USA}), who also ran third in the G1 Toorak H., featuring on the pedigree page.
G2 Valachi Downs Royal S., NZ$100,000, 2000m
Race summary
The Stephen Autridge and Kris Shailer-trained Needle And Thread (Makfi {GB}) thrived on a quick back-up and the step to 2000 metres by producing a commanding front-running performance.
Fourth in the G2 Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day, the 3-year-old headed straight for the front under Craig Grylls and, after dashing clear into the straight, strolled to the line to beat stablemate Lily’s Lady (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) by 4.5l.
Il Affare (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) got well back in the running and she made ground solidly for third with Beaune (Kermadec {NZ}) also coming from a mile back to be next to cross the line.
Pedigree notes
Needle And Thread’s sire Makfi (GB) produced Group 1 winners Bonneval (NZ), Sofia Rosa (NZ) and Marky Mark (NZ) during his shuttle career to Westbury Stud.
The filly is a sister to the stakes winner, three-time Group 1 placegetter and sire Savile Row (NZ) and they are out of Fleece (GB) (Daylami {Ire}).
She is a daughter of the French Listed winner Gold Dodger (USA) (Slew O’Gold {USA}) and she also produced G3 Curragh Park S. winner Chintz (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), the dam of the multiple Group 1 winner and sire The Gurkha (Ire).
Ellerslie, G2 Skycity Auckland Guineas, NZ$100,000, 1600m
Race summary
Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock) was making his first appearance since he finished a luckless fifth in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and he proved the superior colt.
Rider Craig Grylls held him back in midfield before inching closer across the top and the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained 3-year-old let down strongly in the run home.
Jason Belltree (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) raced on the pace all the way and he boxed on gamely for second with On Display (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) producing an eye-catching finish from the back for third.
Pedigree notes
Rocket Spade was bred by Sun Bloodstock and purchased out of Tyreel Stud’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft by Hermitage Thoroughbreds and Wexford Stables for $425,000.
He is a son of Affairoftheheart (NZ) (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), who won of five occasions, and she is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Soriano (NZ) (Savabeel) and her G3 Premier’s Cup-winning brother Kaiser Franz (NZ).
It’s also the family of the G2 Dulcie S. winner and Group 1 performer Kiss (NZ) (Pompeii Court {USA}) with the subject horse Rocket Spade’s sire Fastnet Rock the source of 40 individual Group 1 winners.
G2 Rich Hill Mile, NZ$100,000, 1600m
Race summary
Showoroses (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) completed consecutive Group 2 wins when she added the Rich Hill Mile to the Cal Isuzu S. title she had earned at her previous appearance.
The 4-year-old crossed the field to lead for Vinnie Colgan and the Joanne Surgenor-trained mare held all the challenges at bay after kicking clear 250 metres off the post.
Demonetization (All Too Hard) settled with a few lengths off the pace and he rounded off tenaciously in the straight for second ahead of Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), who found the line strongly after getting back in the field.
Pedigree notes
Showoroses is one of a quartet of Group 2 winners alongside Xpression (NZ), Play That Song and Showboy (NZ) produced by Showcasing (GB) during his shuttle run days to Haunui Farm.
The filly is out of Rodrigo Rose (NZ) (Rodrigo De Triano {USA}) and she weas a talented race mare who won six races, including the G3 Cuddle S. and she was twice a Group 1 placegetter.
The dam is a daughter of Rosebrook (Vain), who won three Listed events and the only up-front black-type performer in the pedigree.
G3 Skycity City of Auckland Cup, NZ$200,000, 2400m
Race summary
Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel) had to play second fiddle to Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) in this race 12 months ago and she reversed that result, albeit by the barest of margins.
The Jamie Richards representative was given plenty of time to find her feet by rider Danielle Johnson before circling runners and in a driving finish she got the deciding stride in.
Platinum Invador also powered home from the tail and failed by a cigarette paper to defend his tile with Robusto (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) taking third off the well-backed In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock), who had to work hard early to take a handy spot.
Pedigree notes
Bred and raced by Gartshore Bloodstock, Savy Yong Blonk is the 109th individual black type winner for Savabeel with 21 of them at Group 1 level.
The filly is a sister to the G2 Autumn Classic winner Adelaide Ace (NZ) and they are out of the unraced Pins mare Ampin (NZ).
Her two winning offspring are three-quarter relations to the G3 Gloaming S. winner and G1 Australian Guineas runner-up Strike The Stars (NZ), a son of Ambitious (NZ) (Last Tycoon {Ire}) who was second in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
