Tuxedo winning the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Wellington Stakes. Photo Peter Rubery, NZ Race Images
Copy: Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray collected their second Group Three success in a matter of days at Otaki on Thursday, with Tuxedo stamping himself as an early Derby prospect when winning the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Wellington Stakes (1600m).
The Cambridge training partnership won last Saturday’s Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) with Nereus, and partnering up once again with jockey Joe Doyle, they travelled to the Central Districts with a promising horse having just his second race-day start.
The son of Tivaci won on debut at Te Aroha on October 30 and had strong form behind him, starting a $7.40 fourth-favourite with Island Life on top at $3.40. Jumping from a wide draw, Doyle opted to settle back in midfield on the gelding, with Ocean Miss taking the early lead before Dubai’s Potiki found the top at the 1000m.
Island Life found the perfect split turning for home and hit the lead early with Ocean Miss the main danger, before Tuxedo began to power down the inside and found an extra kick late, denying the favourite by a long head.
Doyle was full of praise for Tuxedo following the three-year-old feature.
“He’s a gorgeous horse, big, scopey and a good mover, he has everything going for him,” he said.
“We had to pick and choose runs today, he was brave where he went then he chased down the two running up to the line, so well done to Colm and Shaune.
“He’s far from (the finished product), he’s got a lot to learn but once he pulls it all together, I think we really have a proper horse on our hands. As soon as he learns just to relax a little bit, I can put him to sleep and stay in races.
“We could have some fun.”
Ritchie was thrilled with the result, with the $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Champions Day in March presenting as a long-term goal for Tuxedo.
“We’ve always fancied him as a talent, he got it wrong first-up and he was pulling early and got to the front a bit early, but he’s beaten a horse (Withallmyfaith) who has gone out and won two races impressively since, so the form was there,” he said.
“We were keen to ride him cold today and we think he’ll end up a nice stayer, he’s got a lot to learn but jeez, it’s nice winning a Group Three at your second start.
“He needs experience and obviously the money’s at Ellerslie, but it’s nice to come down here. We were keen not to go there (on Saturday) and hit a firm track too early, and it was a nice step-up here with good give in the ground.
“We’ll head to Ellerslie next, we might give him a week to himself and then pick some races over a bit further. He’s a big strong horse, he’s got a lovely action about him, and you’d think he’ll get further than a mile for sure.
“He’s exciting.”
Tuxedo was purchased for $70,000 out of breeder Waikato Stud’s draft at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales, the first foal out of an O’Reilly mare in Ball Gown. The victory extends his prizemoney to $67,860, with two wins from as many attempts.
Elsdon Park wishes Tuxedo’s connections all the very best with their upcoming targets.
Elsdon Park’s two representatives at the 2024 NZB Ready To Run Sale of 2YO’s breezed up in fine style at Te Rapa on Monday.
Expertly prepared by Riversley Park, our Lot 20 Ardrossan ex Kissmekate gelding and Lot 134 Super Seth ex Queen of Pop gelding took the outing in their stride, powering home under Jonathan Riddell and Tegan Newman in a time of 10.66 and 10.65 respectively.
Thanks to the team at Riversley Park and to Jonathan and Tegan for enabling such a polished performance from these youngsters today.
The NZB Ready To Run Sale takes place on the 20th and 21st of November at Karaka.
Story: Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk. Photo: Grant Peters
Lib Petagna’s stayer Kalapour will be tasked with the topweight when attempting to add another Group One to his resume in Saturday’s A$5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) in Melbourne.
The son of War Command was imported to Australia out of Ireland after being purchased by the Wellington-based breeder, and over the past 18 months he has accumulated victories in the Gr.3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m), Gr.3 Archer Stakes (2500m), and a crowning success in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) in March.
Since returning as an eight-year-old, Kalapour finished fourth in the Gr.3 Premier Cup (2000m) before midfield finishes in the Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 Might and Power Stakes (2000m), performances that satisfied Petagna’s racing manager Bruce Perry ahead of the Cup.
“Kris (Lees, trainer) is really happy with where he’s at, obviously he’s got a bit of weight to carry which is never easy, but we’d rather have that weight and have the Tancred in the bin,” Perry said.
“We were happy with his run last start, we probably would’ve liked to see him finish it off a bit better, but that was probably just the way the race was run, leaving him a bit flat-footed.
“He’ll strip much fitter this Saturday, it’ll probably be a big ask to win a race like this or even finish in the first two or three, but I’m sure he’ll run well and if he can finish in the first half of the field, you never know (where too next).”
On top of the book carrying 55kg, the gelding will be ridden by Ben Melham and has drawn barrier four.
Kalapour’s victory in the Archer last November earned him an automatic place in the A$8 million Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), where he finished among the tailenders in a race won by Without A Fight.
Petagna, who owns and operates Matamata thoroughbred nursery Elsdon Park, has accepted through the second round for this year’s Melbourne Cup, a race Perry indicated is still an option beyond Saturday’s contest.
“We’ll see how he goes on Saturday, if he came through it well you’d have to look at it,” he said.
“I’m not sure whether he’s a true two-miler against that sort of elite-level, but it’s such a great iconic race, that, if you’re running well and you’re in there, you’d probably have a go.
“No doubt Kris will make all of those decisions.”
Snitzel filly Love Poem locked in the third winner for the Elsdon Park racing team this week with a dominant maiden win over 1200m at Te Rapa today.
Stakes placed in all three of her starts at two, the Stephen Marsh-trained filly was strongly supported in her classic season debut today, winning as a $1.50 favourite under Matt Cartwright.
AS a two-year-old Love Poem finished second in the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) and the Listed Auckland TR Star Way Stakes (1200m), and filled the third position in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders Stakes.
With today’s impressive outing, Love Poem has shortened from $16 into $10 for her nominated start in the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas on November 16.
Bred by Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd and GSA Bloodstock, Love Poem is a half-sister to Estriella, who races in the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley tonight.
Love Poem was purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $280,000.
Elsdon Park’s earlier winners this week comprised Donna Chiara (Belardo) and Ravello (Savabeel).
The racing team’s promising gelding Ravello resumed in style yesterday with smart win over 1300m at Warwick Farm.
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained four-year-old was sent out the $3.50 favourite and duly rewarded supporters, taking the lead under James McDonald at the 200m for a neck margin win.
“Wet tracks have always hindered him but he has always been a talented horse,” said Tom Charlton.
“It remains to be seen what his best distance will be but he has always shaped like a horse who would get a mile, maybe 2000m in time, but whether he is better fresh and over these shorter distances we will see with time.”
Bred by Max Whitby and co-owned with Sam Williams and Greg Clarke, Ravello has now put together a record of three wins from 13 starts.
Out of the American-bred stakes performer Cover Charge, Ravello was purchased from the draft of Cambridge Stud by Bruce Perry at the 2022 NZB Book One Sale.
Story: By NZ Racing Desk
Promising filly Donna Chiara (NZ) (Belardo) put her hand up for upcoming stakes assignments with a dominant performance in the Seahorse Supplements Maiden 3YO (1200m) at Timaru on Wednesday.
The daughter of Belardo competed in strong company as a juvenile, placing behind subsequent Group One-performer Red Sea before heading for a spell. Returning as a three-year-old, Donna Chiara made her first appearance for Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton arm on the synthetic, where she finished runner-up to Robdontess.
Reverting back to her own age group, Donna Chiara was heavily favoured to break maidens closing at $2.90, with jockey Wiremu Pinn showing plenty of intent early to sit outside the pacemaker in Holdem. The filly shook off Holdem turning into the straight and she was simply cruising from the 200m, being eased down by Pinn at the post to score by 1-½ lengths to a fast-closing Kaiseda.
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, who lead the Te Akau stable from Matamata, were represented at the Phar Lap Raceway by stable foreman Hunter Durrant.
“She (Donna Chiara) took a lot of improvement from her first-up run and I think the addition of blinkers by Mark and Sam was the key,” Durrant said.
“It was good to see her get the job done quite easily in the end. We’ll see how she pulls up before deciding what we aim her for in the future.”
Walker was equally impressed by the performance, indicating the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) on October 12 was the likely target for his filly.
“It was a really good win by Donna Chiara and a good ride by Wiremu to put her in the race,” he said.
“He was positive from the gates and that was the winning of the race.
“She’s getting stronger and more mature, as time goes on, and the win should give her a lot of confidence. She’ll go on to bigger things now and hopefully head towards the Barneswood Stakes at Ashburton.
“It’s great to get another win for Lib Petagna, in his colours, and we always appreciate the support of breeders like him. He’s got the breeding operation in full swing at Elsdon Park, and has an outstanding stud manager in Kerrie Cox.”
Bred by Little Avondale Trust out of a Zabeel mare in Bellabaci, Donna Chiara was purchased by Bruce Perry for $90,000 at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales and is raced by Petagna’s JML Bloodstock.
The Eldson Park principal acquired Kevin Hickman’s Valachi Downs property in 2022 and is expanding his broodmare band, which would be greatly enhanced with black-type honours for Donna Chiara.
“We bought her to be a nice filly and she’s out of Sam’s (Williams) great family,” Perry said.
“Lib has a great setup on a beautiful farm at Elsdon Park, and Kevin Hickman (Valachi Downs) had done an amazing job there.
“Lib is fortunate to have stallion shares in the likes of Savabeel, Per Incanto, Alabama Express, Ardrossan, Super Seth, and Noverre, which makes life a lot easier when it comes to breeding rights.
“Donna Chiara might have a crack at the Barneswood, which won’t be easy, but it’s a suitable stakes race. In order for Donna Chiara to earn her keep as a broodmare at Elsdon she probably has to be a black type filly.
“It’s nice to have a filly out that family and if she can get some black type as a three-year-old, whether it’s in the spring, or in the autumn leading up to the Warstep Stakes, it would be great.
“She’s a big leggy filly and there should be no reason, if she settles, that she wouldn’t get a mile and a bit further, especially as a three-year-old against her own age group, which is sometimes when they can get a distance that they may not ever get at any other age.”
The team at Elsdon Park are deeply saddened to report the passing of their star mare Lucia Valentina yesterday.
The triple Gr.1 winning heroine was days away from being covered in Australia by leading stallion Zoustar, when the heartbreaking news of her sudden death came.
For her owners Lib and Katrina Petagna, Lucia Valentina provided some huge thrills.
“Lucia Valentina has a special place in our hearts. She was named after our daughter and enabled us to enjoy some phenomenal family events,” recalled Lib Petagna.
“The whole family really got behind her and we had a lot of thrills with her.
“When you have a horse like Lucia, you bring people into racing that aren’t naturally interested and they get a real buzz out of it. This is what she enabled for us with our friends and family.”
Lucia was initially purchased by Bruce Perry for $60,000 from the draft of Blandford Lodge at the 2012 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
“She had so much presence and personality from day one,” said Perry.
“She was pretty determined and had an incredible will to win. She knew who she liked and who she didn’t – i.e. some people and most horses. However, if you were one of the few she liked, she gave you everything.”
The Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax-bred daughter of Savabeel and Staryn Glenn won on debut at three for trainer Stephen Marsh and after winning the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes at Trentham, made her way to Australia to the yard of Kris Lees.
Under Lees’ guidance, she distinguished herself as the Gr.1 winner of the ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the ATC Vinery Stakes and the VRC Turnbull Stakes.
Victory would also come in the Gr.2 ATC Tramway Stakes and the Gr.2 VRC Matriarch Stakes, along with bold Gr.1 placings in the Caulfield Cup, Ranvet Stakes, Australian Oaks and the Underwood Stakes.
Such a career would see her awarded the Top Filly of the 2013-14 Australasian 3YO Classification (Int.), the Joint Top Filly on the 2013-14 NZ 3YO Free H (1600m+), a World Thoroughbred Ranking of 117 in 2016 and as the NSW Provincial Champion Horse of the Year in 2015.
“For me, her stand-out win was the Queen Elizabeth, where she stumbled twice, but picked herself up under Damien Oliver to explode away from her rivals. No one would have beaten her that day,” said Perry.
Having also enjoyed success on her in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes, Damien Oliver likewise held the mare in the highest regard.
“She was a lovely mare, who I have a lot of fond memories of. She was a dream to ride and definitely punched well above her weight. RIP beautiful girl,” Oliver said.
Since her retirement from racing, Lucia has produced five foals.
Her legacy is set to continue at Elsdon Park through her Gr.1-placed Snitzel daughter Luella Cristina and through her Per Incanto colt, who is now a yearling.
“A loss is always sad, but to lose a mare like Lucia who brought so much joy to so many people is really tough. She was a proper character and a great mother. Her legacy will live on at Elsdon Park, as will the many treasured memories she leaves us with,” said Elsdon Park General Manager, Kerrie Cox.
Elsdon Park welcomed its first foal for the season on August 1st with the arrival of this plucky Exceedance filly out of the Snitzel mare With Zeal.
The same day also marked Elsdon Park’s second birthday.
-Galvelhouse Plus Press Release
Buyers have access to a high-quality and varied selection of bloodstock on Gavelhouse Plus this week, made up of an annual reduction sale by Elsdon Park and a unique dispersal of the Dewar Partnership.
“It’s a two-fold sale this year,” Elsdon Park’s general manager Kerrie Cox said. “Part of it is made up of Elsdon Park’s annual reduction of broodmares and weanlings. We have a number that we want to try to stick to with our broodmare band, and it can grow quite quickly when you’re buying mares and have racehorses retiring off the track to join the broodmare band as well.
“An annual reduction will keep our numbers as tight as possible, and at the same time it gives a great opportunity for people to buy into some of the really nice families that we’ve built up.
“The other aspect of this sale is the dispersal of the Dewar Partnership, made up of mares in foal to Ardrossan and some young progeny of that stallion. That includes two weanlings and four racehorses, including one that placed at Cambridge on Wednesday – the three-year-old filly El Amor (NZ).
“Some really nice horses are being sold in both sides of this sale, so it really just adds another layer and will hopefully attract plenty of interest from buyers.”
Elsdon Park was established in 2022 by Lib and Katrina Petagna and is developing into a major player on the New Zealand thoroughbred landscape.
The Petagnas have been four-time New Zealand Owners of the Year, and their apple green, blue and yellow colours have been carried by nine individual Group One winners across Australasia including the triple Group One-winning superstar Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel).
Making their sale-ring debut as vendors in 2023, Elsdon Park have already had yearlings sell for $725,000 and $600,000 and finished as the second-leading vendor by average in Book 1 of Karaka 2024.
The Dewar Partnership, meanwhile, was set up in 2019 by a group of shareholders in the highly talented former racehorse and young Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan. They were focussed on supporting him during his first few seasons at stud. Nine mares were bred from in that first year, and six of those are being offered as part of this dispersal.
The partnership’s plan was to race the offspring from the first season to ensure they were given every opportunity and then to sell some of the offspring from the second and third crops as yearlings.
Dewar has subsequently sold a total of eight yearlings at Karaka 2023 and 2024 for an average price of $152,500, with price tags ranging from $85,000 up to $260,000. The three yearlings sold at Karaka 2023 include the stakes winner Beau Dazzler (NZ) who ran a commendable fifth in Saturday’s Gr.1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) after drawing the outside barrier and being posted wide throughout plus Te Akau Racing’s talented winner Maracatu (NZ).
With Ardrossan now firmly established as one of New Zealand’s most exciting young stallions, the goals of the partnership have been achieved and the time has come wind up the partnership as was the agreement on formation.
Ardrossan has sired 11 winners, three stakes winners and one stakes placegetter from an initial crop of just 44 foals. From a second crop of just 58 foals, he has already sired four winners from just eight runners including a stakes winner and two stakes placegetters. These include some very exciting gallopers, so his commercial future looks assured and this season he will stand at a fee of $20,000.
According to Cox, there is no shortage of drawcards in the catalogue.
“One of the highlight lots for Dewar would be the broodmare Pwerfect (Pentire), who’s the dam of Beau Dazzler,” she said. “He was a stakes winner earlier this season, then came over for the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and didn’t have much luck in that race. He’s a high-profile horse for that mare and is running in Group Ones.
“Dolce Amore (NZ) (Sebring) is another notable mare. Her progeny have sold for up to $260,000 and she leaves a beautiful type.
“In the Elsdon Park reduction sale, there’s a weanling filly by Hello Youmzain out of the Group-placed mare O’Angel (NZ) (Cape Blanco). Her first foal, a son of Shooting To Win, was sold after winning a trial. Fraser Auret trained him, and he later came back and bought the half-sister by Shalaa.
“This is a really nice filly with a Book 1 pedigree. So she could be a fantastic pinhooking opportunity, or a lovely filly to race and then put into a broodmare band later on. O’Angel is for sale herself as well.”
Cox also highlighted Lot 6, a weanling filly at by Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Noverre (NZ) out of Queen Of Pop (NZ) (Pins).
“Noverre is leaving a fantastic style of horse,” she said. “We have shares in the stallion, so we have more of his progeny in the paddock.
“This filly’s dam Queen Of Pop was Group Two-placed and fourth in a Group One, and she has left the Group winner Pop Star Princess (NZ) (Makfi) and stakes-placed Queen Of Zealand (NZ) (Savabeel). So this filly’s a half-sister to two stakes performers. Her half-brother by Ardrossan sold for $440,000 at the Ready to Run Sale last year.”
Bidding on the first lot will close from 7pm (NZT) on Tuesday 25th June.
With the help of Gavelhouse Plus, Elsdon Park is set to host its first-ever annual reduction and Dewar Partnership Dispersal Sale.
The Sale will go live on Gavelhouse Plus on Tuesday the 18th and the auction will conclude the following Tuesday.
This Sale will feature 16 in-foal broodmares, 4 racehorses and 8 weanlings.
For a sneak peek at the quality horses heading to this sale, please click on the below lookbook.
To book an inspection or to enquire about a horse, please contact Kerrie Cox on 021 433 517 or Sarah Scott on 027 412 4606.