Story: Racing News

Photo: Peter Rubery, Race Images

A decade after winning his hometown Cup with Maygrove (Authorized), prominent Wellington owner Lib Petagna was back in the spotlight again on Trentham’s biggest day of the year on Saturday.

Petagna’s JML Bloodstock colours were carried to victory by emerging three-year-old Ballon d’Or (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), who upstaged a highly rated line-up in the Harcourts (1200m) on the Wellington Cup undercard.

The countdown to Saturday’s three-year-old sprint was dominated by Komocean (NZ) (Ocean Park), who had made a big impression winning both of her first two starts including a two-length defeat of Ballon d’Or over the same course and distance on December 21. But the tables were emphatically turned in Saturday’s rematch.

While $2.10 favourite Komocean set herself a daunting task with a costly slow start, Ballon d’Or and jockey Rory Hutchings took up an ideal position in third behind Keret (NZ) (Darci Brahma)i and Stone The Crows (NZ) (Charm Spirit).

Hutchings slid through along the inside in Kereti’s slipstream as the field came across the junction on to the course proper. Kereti found another kick at the 250m mark and took some catching, but Ballon d’Or warmed into his work and strode past that rival in the closing stages to win by three-quarters of a length. Albarossa (Vino Rosso) finished third, two and a half lengths behind the first pair.

“They don’t come much easier than that,” said Hutchings, who completed an early double on Wellington Cup Day when he won the next race on the card with Slipper Island.

“Ballon d’Or has been very consistent and deserved to get a good win down here today.

“I felt we were always in control of the race. Coming on to the course proper, I knew that he was ready to let go. He just doesn’t like to be in front for too long, so I had to time it right. I left it as late as I could before going for the whip, and there was an instant response when I did.”

Ballon d’Or is by The Oaks Stud stallion U S Navy Flag out of the Irish-bred Fastnet Rock mare Ireland’s Teardrop. Herself a winner over 2500m, Ireland’s Teardrop is the dam of five winners including the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) and Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m) placegetter Last Sight (NZ) (Showcasing).

Bred by the late Kevin Hickman, Ballon d’Or was offered by Valachi Downs at the 2022 National Weanling Sale at Karaka and was bought for $50,000 by Petagna’s bloodstock agent Bruce Perry.

Ballon d’Or has had 10 starts for two wins, five placings and $77,205 in stakes. His placings include highly creditable efforts behind the likes of NZB Kiwi (1500m) contender Sought After (NZ) (Tivaci) and Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) placegetter Domain Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace).

Ballon d’Or is trained by the Matamata father-son team of Peter and Shaun McKay, who have now had seven winning raids on Trentham during their three seasons in partnership.

“That was a good win today, although it didn’t exactly go to plan,” Shaun McKay said. “I told Rory before the race that we might hopefully end up just behind the favourite, but we ended up flying the gates while she missed it.

“Rory gave him a gun ride and got him to settle well. He can ease up a little bit when he hits the front, but luckily the leader gave him something to chase for quite a long way.

“He’s slowly learning and I think he’ll get better and better. I’m not sure where he’ll get to distance-wise. We thought he might be a mile-plus type of horse, but he’s shown good ability down the chute today. Maybe we’ll keep him to 1200m to 1400m. But he’s got another win on the board now and is progressing well.

“I really like the stallion, U S Navy Flag. He hasn’t quite had a big horse or Group One winner yet, but I’m sure it’ll come.”

Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Lib Petagna’s Elsdon Park will offer its third draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka later this month, and the Matamata nursery has upped the ante, with their consignment nearly doubling their previous offerings.

“We are taking up 29 (yearlings) and it’s a big job, especially stepping up from the number we had last year (15),” Elsdon Park General Manager Kerrie Cox said.

“This is our third yearling draft for Karaka. We are expanding and it’s exciting to be a part of.

“The calibre of horses that we have got as types and on pedigree is high, and there are some really exciting young sires in there as well.

“We have got some really nice types, they look like racehorses to me, they have been really well educated and raised on beautiful, hilly country.

“We have got such experienced people looking after these horses and they look fantastic, they have done a great job.”

Elsdon Park will be looking to build on last year’s success where they were crowned leading vendor by average after selling 14 of their 15 yearlings for an average of $271,429, highlighted by their top lot, the Zoustar colt out of Group One performer Evalina, who was purchased by Jamie Richards and Andrew Williams for $725,000.

“The fact that we were leading vendor by average across the sale was exciting because it showed people valued the stock that we brought to the market,” Cox said.

Elsdon Park’s main theme in this year’s draft is Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan, with Elsdon set to offer 10 of his progeny in Book 1.

“I think there are 15 Ardrossans in Book 1 and we have 10 of them. We 100 per cent believe in the stallion and we think he is going to end up being a good stallion,” Cox said.

“What he is doing at the moment is off very limited numbers and probably not the top-end mares as well, whereas the last couple of books that he has bred he has bred well over 100 mares.

“We sent some really nice mares to him. They are pedigrees that can match it in Book 1, and he produces such a good type, and that is why we have got the numbers we have in there.

“You are really proud when you pull one of those horses out in front of people because they look like athletes.”

Elsdon Park will offer full brothers to stakes winner Beau Dazzler and Karaka Millions 2YO contender Toretto (lot 228), and Group Two winner Yaldi (lot 90), and Cox said they both should garner plenty of attention from prospective buyers.

“Yaldi is a really big horse, he is tall. This boy is probably not going to be as monstrous as Yaldi, but he is still a big colt,” Cox said.

“He has got a gorgeous head, just like his Dad. A big jowl and is a strong, good-looking horse with plenty of length. He is a really nice horse and he should sell well.

“The Pwerfect colt (lot 228) is medium-sized, really well-balanced and put together, and is the spitting image of Beau Dazzler and Toretto. Toretto is in the Karaka Millions so hopefully he can run really well and be another highlight for the mare.”

Another Ardrossan yearling Cox is particularly excited to see go through the ring is lot 468, who is out of Baby Shacks, a sister to Group One performer Vigor and Group Two winner Joey Massino.

“She is quite a cool horse,” Cox said. “The staff have ownership of her so they will be excited when she goes through the ring.

“She is a great type with amazing movement and has been very well handled. She probably gets more food and handling than anything else.”

Sofia Rosa recorded plenty of highlights for Lib Petagna in her racing career, including winning the 2016 edition of the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) for trainer Stephen Marsh, and Cox is looking forward to seeing her Almanzor colt (lot 308) go through the ring.

“He is lovely,” Cox said. “She was a very good racehorse and one of Lib’s pride and joys. Almanzor leaves such beautiful stock, and he is her best progeny to date. He is really nice and he should find a good home.”

Cox also has a high opinion of the farm’s other Almanzor offering, lot 266, the filly out of Group Three performer Santa Catarina.

“I haven’t heard anyone say a bad word about her, she is a very nice filly. I am looking forward to her going through the ring,” she said.

Eldson Park have three yearlings in their draft by Champion New Zealand sire Savabeel, including lot 602, who is the first foal out of Zoustar mare Fall on a Star.

“He is a first foal and he is just gorgeous,” Cox said. “He has got such a good brain on him that I think you can keep him a colt, he is such a cruisy horse.

“I think he is a star on looks and he has got a tidy pedigree page behind him as well.”

Cox is looking forward to building on Elsdon Park’s success at Karaka, with the sale kicking off on Sunday, January 26.

“Lib has got a really gorgeous foundation of broodmares and every year we are building on that,” Cox said.

“We produce really good types, which is our goal. You have got to have a horse that looks like they are going to be an athlete. They have got to look like they are going to run, they have got to be sound and have a really good start at life, and I think we do that really well.”

Yaldi winning today’s Gr.2 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas (1400m). Photo: Kenton Wright, Race Images

Story: Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

In a blockbuster edition of the Gr.2 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas (1400m), outsider Midnight Edition and favoured runner Yaldi went to the line as one, with the latter securing the Boxing Day feature in a protest.

Yaldi had been an impressive juvenile, winning on debut before placing at stakes level in Australia. The imposing galloper had done little racing in his three-year-old season, making his first appearance since August when finishing a narrow second to Risque Ruler at Te Rapa earlier this month.

Promising Te Akau filly Damask Rose started a short-priced favourite for the Guineas, closing at a $1.90 ahead of Checkmate ($3.70) and Yaldi at $6.50. The filly was conservatively ridden from her wide gate while Yaldi bounced swiftly from the inside, settling in the box-seat third under Michael McNab, while Midnight Edition crossed to take the lead.

Midnight Edition’s jockey Matt Cartwright steadied the tempo and the gelding showed a decent kick at the top of the straight, hanging on to the lead until the final bounds, where Yaldi, with blinkers applied for the first time, powered up and they found the line in unison.

The judge was unable to separate the pair and the race was announced a dead-heat, but Yaldi’s trainer Andrew Forsman soon launched a protest, which later revealed interference with Midnight Edition shifting out slightly in the closing stages. Stewards deemed that enough to reward Yaldi with the outright victory, denying the Bruce Wallbank-trained galloper a $77 boilover.

Forsman admitted the race hadn’t been an easy watch through the mid-stages, but that made the win all the more pleasing for the Cambridge horseman.

“I was a bit worried mid-race as it wasn’t unfolding as we’d hoped, they were only going steadily and he was quite keen with the blinkers on for the first time, he said.

“I was really happy to see him knuckle down off the slow speed like he did.

“The blinkers are something we’ve toyed with for a little while, he’s trialled with them on before and looks around a lot. He’s still very raw and immature and he’s still learning, so I just thought he needed to focus a bit more after the other day at Te Rapa where he probably threw the race away.”

Yaldi was bred by Max Brown and is owned by Elsdon Park’s Lib Petagna along with David and Nicki Wilson.

Yaldi races in the colours of Elsdon Park, who purchased him out of Little Avondale Stud’s draft for just $50,000 at Karaka 2023 with the assistance of bloodstock agent Bruce Perry.

The son of Ardrossan is eligible for both the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), the latter a race Forsman holds an all-important slot for.

“The main target for this preparation has been the Karaka mile, and obviously the Kiwi and races like that are on his radar,” he said. “How we get to Karaka I’m not so sure, we’ll just see how he comes through it and talk to Lib, Bruce and the team.

“The Levin Classic (Gr.2, 1400m) is an option and a trip away may be a good thing for a horse like him, he’s learning and that experience can make a horse like him. We’ll see what comes of the next week or so and figure it out. 

“The 1500 of the Kiwi at Ellerslie is tailor-made for him, he doesn’t need to do too much more and you’d think with a bigger field with hopefully a more genuine tempo, it should suit him as well.”

Elsdon Park offer a full brother to Yaldi at the 2025 NZB Book One Sale.

Saltcoats winning at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Bradley Photos care of NZ Racing Desk

Story: NZ Racing Desk

Four-year-old gelding Saltcoats has posted his first victory on Australian soil when coming with a sustained run to land the Coolmore Spelling @ Mount White Handicap (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday.

The Chris Waller-trained son of Ardrossan came from near the rear of the field under Tommy Berry and made a long sustained run to defeat fellow Kiwi-breds So Dazzling and Tavi Time by the best part of a length.

Winner of the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) in May of his juvenile year for original trainer Samantha Logan, the talented galloper was sold across the Tasman and sports the colours of prominent owner Ozzie Kheir. He races for a syndicate with breeder and original sole owner of the horse Lib Petagna retaining a share.

“He has always shown us promise but we didn’t know what to expect today from the draw (13),” Waller said.

“I said to just go back and ride him quietly and hope that he can blend into the race, which he certainly did and he sustained a long run.

“He had a small incident before the start of this preparation which has held him back and it looks like he is in good shape now.”

Sent out a $12 chance, Saltcoats had been a well-beaten tenth first-up on a Good3 track at Kembla Grange.

“It was definitely too firm at Kembla Grange last start, which was disappointing because he was going so well,” winning rider Tommy Berry said.

“I said to my manager that we just need to draw a gate and I think he can win next start. He has just been doing everything right at home and working very well.

“I had in the back of my mind to go forward and Chris said nup – not today, we’ll go back and get a little bit of luck.

“Probably the winning was down the side. There was a three-wide line and I was able to improve into the race still with cover and he is only second-up at 1800m, so he has got a bit of improvement and Chris is taking his time with him, which is dearly needed.

“He is quite a keen going horse and you don’t know what is there until you let him off the bit but he deserved that today.”

Now the winner of two of his 10 starts with a further five placings, Saltcoats was third in the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) won by Wymark back in March.

By promising Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan, Saltcoats is out of the lightly raced Savabeel mare Savanite, a half-sister to the Gr.2 Waikato Gold Cup (2400m) winner Singing Star, who in turn is the dam of Group Three winner Miss Selby.

A Group One performed half-brother to Incentivise, Ardrossan stands at a fee of $20,000+GST at Waikato Stud.

With just 52 runners to date, Ardrossan has sired seven stakes performers and four stakes winners for good early figures of 7.7% stakes winners to runners.

Beau Dazzler scoring his second stakes win in the Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes. Photo: Grant Peters via NZ Racing Desk

Story: NZ Racing Desk

Dewar Partnership-bred three-year-old Beau Dazzler has flagged his staying ability with a strong victory in the Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes (1800m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday for trainers Tony & Maddysen Sears.

The son of Ardrossan was the winner of the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1000m) as a juvenile and performed with credit when crossing the Tasman to finish seventh in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) when closing well.

The gelding again ran meritoriously and without luck when fourth in the Listed Phoenix Stakes (1500m) and fifth in the Gr..1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) through the Queensland Winter Carnival, but all indicators are Beau Dazzler will appreciate getting out further in trip.

Now in his Classic season, Beau Dazzler overcame the inside draw on the deteriorating Heavy 8 surface under a well-plotted Jag Guthmann-Chester ride and relished the tempo added by eventual fourth Apuntar to power to a three-length win from Sun Worshipper with Madame Lexis third.

“He has always shown us a lot but he is a very tricky horse,” Maddy Sears said.

“He is not an easy horse to do things with and I do have to make mention of James who rides him every day as he is very naughty, but we thought he was a very good chance today.

“We bought him as a Derby-style of horse, and we didn’t think the distance would be any problem whatsoever and when the rain came in it was almost like a 2000m race with how heavy it was.

“His ability prevailed, and it was a great ride by Jag. He drew barrier one, but he kept him off the fence and he just speared through and put them away.”

Sears said Guthmann-Chester was an underrated rider.

“He is very strong and he vary rarely does things wrong on horses and he got the job done today,” she said.

With a Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) campaign the focus through the winter, Beau Dazzler is likely to have one more run this campaign.

“I believe there is a 2000m race in two weeks’ time that he will run in and then we will put him away and I think he will be a force to be reckoned with in the Queensland Derby,” Sears said.

“Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman bought him for us in New Zealand and we have had a lot of luck in those colours with Melvin (Foo) and Suat (Wee). He was obviously a stakes winner as a two-year-old and now he has gone on to do it as a three-year-old, so who knows what the future holds but he is a horse that keeps on improving.

“He is a very cool horse and I think there is a lot more in-store for him.”

Beau Dazzler was offered by Mapperley Stud in Book 2 of Karaka 2023, where he was bought for $85,000. Bred by the Dewar Partnership, Beau Dazzler is by Waikato Stud’s promising young sire Ardrossan out of the Pentire mare Pwerfect, who comes from the family of northern hemisphere Group One stars such as Fame And Glory and Legatissimo.

Beau Dazzler’s juvenile younger full-brother Toretto is an early qualifier for next year’s Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), having prevailed at Ellerslie a fortnight ago for Hollie Wynyard, while another full-brother will be offered as Lot 228 from the draft of Elsdon Park at next month’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales (see picture below)

Elsdon Park’s confirmed draft for the 2025 NZB Book One Yearling Sale comprises of 30 quality youngsters.

These comprise:

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).