Cover image courtesy of Race Images
The well-draining, sandy surface at Ruakaka is a key feature of New Zealand racing every winter, and the locally trained Whiskey Lies (NZ) has been a revelation through recent Saturday race meetings at the seaside racecourse just south of Whangarei.
The son of first-crop Cambridge stud stallion Embellish (NZ) has strung together three consecutive victories in increasingly impressive style. He scored by 0.1l on June 10 and by 0.2l on July 1, then kicked away for a dominant 2.8l romp in Saturday’s 2YO Winter Championship Final.
Trained by Kenny Rae and Krystal Williams for local owners Mal Barratt and Tania Patterson, Whiskey Lies (NZ) has now won three of his four career starts and NZ$69,300 in stakes.
The colt was bought by Barratt for NZ$12,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Wentwood Grange in the Book 2 session.
“We’re absolutely stoked,” Wentwood Grange co-owner Dean Hawkins said. “It’s great for everybody – for the owners, for Kenny Rae and Krystal Williams, and for Embellish as well.
“There was a little bit of early word that this colt had shown some ability. Kenny mentioned in the media that he hadn’t shown a heap on the training track leading into this campaign, but it’s clear that he loves racing, and that win on Saturday suggested that he’s a horse that could be going places. It’s very exciting for everyone involved.
“He was a real favourite with the team during his sales preparation. He was very strong, very forward, a lovely type and so good to work with. It hasn’t really been a surprise to see him go on with it the way he has.”
Special result for Hawkins family
Whiskey Lies was bred by the Hawkins family under their Llanhennock Trust banner, and he is the latest of three winners from three named foals out of Champagne Katie (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
Herself a two-time winner on the track and a fourth placegetter in the Listed Canterbury Belle S. and Otago Breeders’ S., Champagne Katie is a half-sister to the Llanhennock-bred stakes winner Brown Eyed Grace (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}).
Both Champagne Katie and Brown Eyed Grace are daughters of Lycsis (Final Card), who was bought by the Hawkins family for $16,000 from the draft of Emerald Thoroughbreds at the 2004 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.
Dean Hawkins | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Herself unraced, Lycsis is a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Lycra (NZ) (Tights {USA}). With seven winners from seven foals to race, Lycsis played a key role in putting the Hawkins family and Wentwood Grange on the New Zealand thoroughbred map.
“What makes it even more special to follow the success Whiskey Lies is having is the fact that Champagne Katie is out of Lycsis, who was one of the very first mares that our family raced and bred from,” Dean Hawkins said.
“What makes it even more special to follow the success Whiskey Lies is having is the fact that Champagne Katie is out of Lycsis, who was one of the very first mares that our family raced and bred from.” - Dean Hawkins
“Champagne Katie herself finished fourth at stakes level, and then we retired her into our broodmare band and bred from her as well. She’s done an outstanding job, with all of her named foals being winners. Her progeny have sold for up to NZ$230,000, and she’s had a couple go and win races for Te Akau Racing. She’s done so well for us, and if it wasn’t for a little bit of bad luck along the way, she could have had an even better record. We always try to build up our female families as much as we can, and this mare has certainly been a big contributor to that. It’s very exciting.
“Unfortunately she had only one more foal after Whiskey Lies – a filly by Almanzor, who we’ve decided to retain to race along with one of our great clients. Hopefully we might have some good things to look forward to with her as well.”
Promising start for Embellish
Whiskey Lies has become a last-minute headline act among an encouraging first crop of 2-year-olds for Embellish, who commands a service fee of NZ$5000 (plus GST) at Cambridge Stud.
By Champion Sire Savabeel, Embellish is a full brother to the Group 1 winner and multiple black-type producer Diademe (NZ) (Savabeel), while other close relatives include multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Sacred Star (Flying Spur) and the Group 1-performed Hong Kong racehorse Regency Legend (NZ) (Pins).
Embellish was bred by Waikato Stud, who offered him in their Book 1 draft at New Zealand Bloodstock's Karaka in 2016. He caught the eye of Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, who secured him for NZ$775,000.
Embellish (NZ) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
Embellish himself had just one start at two, finishing second, but he made his mark as a 3-year-old with three wins including the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas. He was also runner up in the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
His first crop of 2-year-olds has so far produced three winners from 12 runners. He ranks third among New Zealand’s first-season sires by winners, and fifth by earnings.
Three of his progeny have placed at stakes level – Talisker (NZ) in the G2 Eclipse S., Luberon (NZ) in the Listed Counties Challenge S., and Paragon (NZ) in the Listed Auckland Futurity S.
The Hawkins family were quick to get on board with Embellish, and they had no reservations around sending Champagne Katie to him in his first season at stud.
“That Savabeel line is always so exciting, and we were very taken with his win in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas,” Dean Hawkins said. “That was a particularly impressive performance.
“That Savabeel line is always so exciting, and we were very taken with his (Embellish) win in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas.” - Dean Hawkins
“Having Cambridge Stud put their support behind that stallion the way they have is quite a big endorsement, and as a breeder in New Zealand, we think it’s important to support these exciting young stallion prospects and give them every opportunity to succeed.
“We’re great supporters of Brendan and Jo Lindsay and what they’re doing for Cambridge Stud and our industry as a whole. We have a great relationship with them and all of their outstanding team, they’re a pleasure to work with, and we’re always happy to send mares to their stallions.”
