Shinn delivers a masterclass on Damask Rose in The Kiwi
Te Akau Racing, Blake Shinn and fantastic filly Damask Rose created a slice of New Zealand racing history when they took out the inaugural running of the richest race in the land, the $3.5 million slot race, The NZB Kiwi at Ellerslie on Saturday, writes the NZ Racing Desk.
It was a big day for the family with Damask Rose’s sister Provence doubling her elite-winning tally in one of the previous races on the card when she triumphed in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m).
The Kiwi is the centrepiece of the newly created Champions Day, a day featuring eight black-type contests including four at Group 1 level.
Open to New Zealand–bred three-year-olds, the 14 slots for the race were auctioned during 2024 and were snapped up by buyers from around New Zealand, Australia and as far afield as Malaysia.
Te Akau Racing were one of those successful bidders and announced stable runner Damask Rose as their nominated candidate in December last year. Since then, the three-year-old daughter of legendary Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel (Zabeel) captured the rich Karaka Millions 3YO in late January before being set for Saturday’s contest.
A winning trial over 1100 metres at Taupo last month fitted her for the assignment and she delivered in fine style, courtesy of a masterclass ride from Blake Shinn, who had been aboard her in the Karaka Million 3YO.
Punters that confidently supported her into the $5 second–favourite behind the Victorian-trained Evaporate (Per Incanto) were potentially tearing up their tickets shortly after the start as the filly dwelt slightly and was quickly relegated to a clear three lengths off the second–last runner after just 400 metres.
Shinn didn’t panic and took Damask Rose where angels fear to tread in the home straight, hugging the rails and bursting clear at the 150 metres to beat Evaporate by 1.5 lengths with Checkmate (Mongolian Khan) another 0.1 lengths away in third.
Shinn, who had earlier piloted stablemate Return To Conquer to victory in the Sistema Stakes for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, was brimming with pride at the result.
“She was a bit slow at the start so we had to go to Plan B and ride her a bit quiet, so fortunately the speed was on,” Shinn said.
“I was contemplating coming wide but the way the race set up I had to look for inside runs, which came and she was good enough to capitalise on them.
“She is a really good horse; we won the Karaka Million 3YO and it is really special to win the inaugural running of this race for Te Akau.
“She has an electric turn of foot, a real desire to take the gaps and savage the line as the pressure was starting to tell up against the rails but she pinned her ears back and I’m just delighted.
“This means a lot as deep down I’m quite emotional and have struck up a great relationship with Te Akau Racing as they are a big family unit and this is what it is all about for them.”
Both Bergerson and Walker were overjoyed with the performance as they accepted congratulations from the syndicate of owners and many well–wishers on course at Ellerslie.
“It’s pretty surreal and I said to Mark when we saw her flop out the back she is going to have to be good from there,” Bergerson said.
“Fair play to Blake as he was very patient and the filly was so game. When she shot through we were all up on our feet.
“She has just kept improving as we had earmarked her for the slot early on and we’re so thankful it has come off.
“I was a bag of nerves all week and there are so many people to thank, I’m just so grateful.”
An added feature of the race is the opportunity for Damask Rose to now contest a rich Australian event with the recent announcement the slot race has officially become a ‘Golden Ticket’ race, granting the winner direct entry into Australia’s prestigious $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 1.
Damask Rose (3 f Savabeel – Sombreuil by Flying Spur) was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $200,000 out of Milan Park’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft and is out of the winning mare Sombreuil (Flying Spur).
She comes from an extended family that includes her granddam Te Akau Rose (Thorn Park) who was a winner of the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m), along with Doncaster Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) winner turned Newgate Farm-based sire Brutal (O’Reilly).
Damask Rose has now won four of her seven starts and $2.28 million for owners the Te Akau Coming Up Roses Racing Partnership.
Provence doubles her Group 1 tally with a Breeders’ Stakes upset
Eight weeks after celebrating what they thought was a career pinnacle in the Thorndon Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) at Trentham, the connections of blue-blooded mare Provence (Savabeel) were treated to something even more special in Saturday’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Ellerslie.
The fillies and mares’ feature carried a stake of $600,000 and was one of four Group 1s on a star-studded Champions Day card. Provence earned her time in the spotlight with a stunning $30 upset over the $1.30 favourite, New Zealand’s highest-rated mare Legarto (Proisir).
“This is a great feeling,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “Throughout the last few weeks and months, I just couldn’t wait to get to this day. It’s the greatest day ever and so awesome for New Zealand racing. You just come into it hoping that your horses can step up, and this mare has done that.”
Provence earned her first Group 1 victory in the Thorndon Mile on January 11. She dug deep all the way down the long Trentham straight that day and edged out Qali Al Farrasha (Almanzor), Town Cryer (Tavistock) and Aegon (Sacred Falls) in a desperately close finish.
In her only start since then, Provence was badly blocked in the straight in the Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Matamata on February 15. She saw daylight very late in the piece, making up some late ground to get within three and a half lengths of Legarto. When they met again in Saturday’s Breeders’ Stakes, the result was very different.
Legarto had been a victim of circumstances in her two previous shock Ellerslie defeats, finishing strongly from too far back to run second in last year’s Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m). This time rider Ryan Elliot had her well within striking distance and she ranged up alongside the leaders at the top of the straight.
But this time Provence surged out of the pack and soon drew up on Legarto’s outside, with a strong-finishing Jaarffi (Iffraaj) flashing through closer to the inside.
Provence and Jaarffi swallowed up Legarto with about 70 metres remaining, fighting a head-bobbing finish that Provence won by 0.1 lengths. Legarto was another 0.5 lengths away in third.
It was a third–consecutive win in the Breeders’ Stakes for jockey Sam Spratt, who guided Belclare (Per Incanto), who ran ninth this time, to back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2024.
“We had a bad draw [11] to start with, so we were a bit disheartened coming into this race,” she said. “But we ended up actually getting a beautiful trip, just in midfield and one off.
“As soon as she got out, she’s just so tough. We went past Legarto, and I thought, ‘If we’ve managed to get past her, we must be a chance here.’ But then Warren [Kennedy, riding Jaarffi] bombed me at the end and he actually said ‘I got you.’ So I went from being excited to ‘aw’. But she’s just so tough.
“Stephen has nailed it with this mare. She’s hit the mark when it matters in two Group 1 races. She went pretty well at Matamata last time too, pretty much just cantering to the line.”
Provence (5 m Savabeel – Sombreuil by Flying Spur) has now had 16 starts for six wins, a placing and $817,115 in stakes. The five-year-old Savabeel mare was bred by Tony Rider, who shares ownership with the Social Racing Ellerslie Winners’ Circle Syndicate.
“We’ve had so many seconds this season, and when they hit the line there, I thought that was going to be another second placing in the books,” Marsh said. “But then the photo popped up on the screen and it was just the best feeling.
“You’d love to have a few more like this mare in your stable. She’s so tough and has an amazing will to win. She has now won two Group 1 races this season and she’s a beautifully bred Savabeel mare, so it couldn’t be any better than that. It’s great for Tony Rider, for Brent and Wendy Cooper and a massive syndicate of owners with Social Racing.”
Dominant Derby redemption for Willydoit
Memories of a confidence-denting defeat in last month’s Avondale Guineas (Gr 2, 2100m) were blown away on Saturday as Willydoit (Tarzino) powered to a dominant victory in the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) at Ellerslie, writes the NZ Racing Desk.
Willydoit strung together three increasingly impressive wins at the Auckland track during the summer and spent most of the last three months at the head of fixed-odds betting for the $1.25 million classic.
However, the Tarzino (Tavistock) gelding dropped out to a distant third-last among a 15-horse field in the Avondale Guineas on February 22 and made little impression from the back in a slowly run race. He eventually crossed the line in tenth, almost five lengths adrift of the Australian-trained winner Thedoctoroflove (So You Think).
Willydoit’s rise to stardom had suddenly stalled, and his firm grip on Derby favouritism was loosening. The Avondale Guineas has been the very best Derby guide in recent times, with seven of the last 13 Avondale Guineas winners going on to Derby success. Another three Derby winners were placegetters in the Guineas during that period.
But supporters stuck strong with Willydoit, sending him out as a $3.70 favourite for Derby redemption. He had a new jockey, Melbourne-based expat Kiwi rider Mick Dee, who made sure there would be no repeat of what happened two weeks ago.
Awkwardly drawn in gate 14 among a 16-horse field, Dee was flushed out four–wide as the field turned out of the home straight with a lap to go. Dee elected to press forward, sliding up into third down the back straight as Amazing Fluke (The Autumn Sun) and Grey Area (Pierro) set the pace.
While those two began to tire and fade out of contention coming down the side of the track, Willydoit strode forward with purpose and hit the lead with 600 metres to run.
Dee had a quick look over his right shoulder just before the home turn, then went for gold. Willydoit kicked again at the top of the straight and put a gap between himself and the chasers.
Thedoctoroflove, Golden Century (Pierro) and Mustang Morgan (Preferment) emerged from the pack and gave chase, but Willydoit was on another level. He swept past the finish line 2.3 lengths in front of Thedoctoroflove.
It was a first Group 1 win in New Zealand for Dee, who has won 14 times at that level in Australia including the Blue Diamond (Gr 1, 1200m) with Devil Night (Extreme Choice) two weeks ago.
“It’s very special,” the 28-year-old said. “I’ve got a lot of family and friends here today, so it’s awesome.
“I had a few different sets of instructions coming into this race, but the one idea I had in my mind was to get him going early and get him up there.
“I thought I might have been able to get in a couple of times, but it was a bit ugly until we got down the back and pressed on. I said before the race that I’d rather go forward to try and get in rather than dropping back to do so. That’s what we did.
“Jeez, he was tough. That was a super effort. We were there to be run down, but he’s got great stamina and just keeps going.”
Willydoit (3 g Tarzino – Willamette by More Than Ready) was bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey and was offered in Westbury’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2023. He was bought by co-trainer Shaun Clotworthy for $75,000.
Now part-owned by international micro-share syndicator MyRacehorse alongside his co-trainer Emma Clotworthy, and Bryan Black, Willydoit has had six starts for four wins, a placing and $847,415 in stakes.
Willydoit was a special first Group 1 winner for Shaun Clotworthy, who joins his father Kim as a Derby-winning trainer. The latter won the Ellerslie classic with Uncle Remus (Bandmaster II) in 1977.
“I’ve emulated Dad and it’s my first Group 1,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “It’s very special to share this with Emma, my son and also the whole team. It’s a dream come true.
“I just keep on shaking people’s hands, there’s so many owners here. It’s a huge thrill and is just massive for everyone.
“Mick said before the race that he was going to roll forward and ride him like the best horse, and he was the best horse.
“The Avondale Guineas was the one blip along the road to this race, but that was just down to the pace of the race. I feel sorry for Masa [Hashizume], but that’s the way it goes in racing.”
Willydoit is now set to depart the Clotworthy stable, relocating across the Tasman for a potential Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) campaign from the Ciaron Maher stable.
“It’s sad to say goodbye to him now, but that happens,” Clotworthy said. “I think there’s still petrol in the tank for an Australian Derby. We’ll see how he pulls up from this, but he’s a pretty good horse.”
Willydoit has enhanced his sire Tarzino’s reputation as a Classic sire. The Westbury Stud stallion is represented by two other Group 1 Classic winners – Jungle Magnate who won the South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m), and Gypsy Goddess who landed the Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2200m).
El Vencedor lands thrilling Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes
El Vencedor (Shocking) signed off his latest local campaign with the final leg of a winning Group 1 treble when he downed gallant mare La Crique (Vadamos) in a thrilling finish to the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie, writes the NZ Racing Desk.
El Vencedor or ‘EV’ as he is now affectionately known added the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) and the WFA Classic (Gr 1, 1600m) to his career record at his previous two starts and was shooting for a final local accolade before heading to Hong Kong next month to contest the QEII Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) at Sha Tin.
Punters installed him as the $1.40 race favourite and looked to be in for an armchair ride to the bank after jockey Wiremu Pinn found the front from barrier four and walked his seven rivals through the first 900 metres of the race.
Michael McNab aboard La Crique was having none of that and sent the mare forward to find the front with 1000 metres to run and had the favourite breathing down her neck rounding the home bend.
El Vencedor put his nose in front at the 300 metres but La Crique refused to lay down as they went head–to–head, stride–for–stride to the finish where EV got his nose down at just the right time to win by 0.1 lengths. Te Akau’s consistent mare Qali Al Farrasha produced another good run to finish another 2.5 lengths away in third.
Trainer Stephen Marsh, who had produced Provence to win the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes barely 35 minutes earlier, was trying to soak it all in as he answered questions about the performance.
“I’m so proud as he is just amazing,” Marsh said. “I thought we had been beaten on the line again as La Crique was so tough, tried her hardest and it was just a great spectacle.
“What can I say as I’m a bit overwhelmed as the last half-an-hour has been the best in racing you could ask for.
“The owners [David Price and Mark Freeman] have bred him, have been long term with us and I’m just proud of everyone involved including Wiremu who has done a lot of work for us.”
Marsh also outlined his plans for his charge before heading overseas.
“This is just such a great race and it is fantastic when it is like that,” he said.
“Geez it got tight and it was sweaty palms time, but he is tough and he knows where the winning post is.
“We have got six weeks to go until Hong Kong so he might enjoy a little time in the paddock, not too much as he will get too fat, then Hong Kong here we come.”
El Vencedor (6 g Shocking – Strictly Maternal by O’Reilly) was set to have a big payday on Saturday no matter the outcome, with the gelding having an unassailable lead in the Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series going into the final of the series and earning a further $300,000.
The six-year-old currently finished the series on 24 points with La Crique (14 points) securing the runner-up bonus of $150,000, with $50,000 split between Snazzytavi (Tavistock) and Qali Al Farrasha, who finished tied on ten points each.
Bred and raced by Freeman and Price, El Vencedor has now had 41 starts for 12 wins, 13 placings and more than $2.1 million in prize-money.