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).

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.”