Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) today announced a partnership with Elsdon Park, with the New Zealand stud signing on to sponsor the newly created $1m open 4YO race to take place on TAB Karaka Millions night.

To be known as the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic, the race will be run over 1600m for $1,000,000 under set-weight conditions on TAB Karaka Millions night (27th January 2024), one of the highlights of the ATR calendar.

Elsdon Park sponsored the Group 2 Royal Stakes at the New Year’s Day Races in 2023, held at Te Rapa Racecourse whilst Ellerslie was under construction, and it’s pleasing to officially welcome Elsdon Park to the ATR stable for the 2023/24 season.

“Elsdon Park is a significant player in the thoroughbred breeding industry making them a natural fit for that night in particular which showcases the best of New Zealand racing to an international audience,” says ATR chief executive officer Paul Wilcox.

ATR sponsorship manager John O’Malley is also delighted to welcome Elsdon Park into the fold.

“We are thrilled to have Elsdon Park’s support of the all-new $1m 4YO race on TAB Karaka Millions night.

“The race, one of the innovations to come from the $20.3m stakes injection from the TAB NZ/Entain strategic partnership, is an exciting addition to what’s already the glamour night of racing in New Zealand.”

Elsdon Park general manager, Kerrie Cox, is equally excited to be joining forces with ATR.

“This is an exciting race meeting that we had previously singled out as being one we really wanted to be involved with.

“To be a part of one of New Zealand’s biggest racedays, with a $1 million race that should attract a quality international field, and on the eve of our National Yearling Sale Series, is something we are delighted to now be a part of.”

Elsdon Park’s owner, Lib Petagna, echoed those sentiments.

“The newly formed TAB NZ and Entain partnership provides a significant boost to our industry and this meeting, with its domestic and global coverage, provides a unique opportunity to build our brand and partner with ATR on this exciting initiative.”|

The $1,000,000 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic will be run on Saturday 27th January 2024, as a part of the TAB Karaka Millions. The TAB Karaka Millions sees the who’s who of the New Zealand racing and social set take to the racetrack to cheer on the thoroughbreds running for the biggest prize money in New Zealand racing.

-NZ Racing Desk

Our first foal of the season has arrived! Over the weekend the team welcomed this smart Ardrossan colt from the Pins mare Cosmic into the world. 

Pictured at just a few hours old, this colt hails from a family that features the Gr.1 winners Probabeel, Never Been Kissed and Savvy Coup, and black-type standouts such as Legless Veuve, Tootsie and Ocean Emperor.

Fittingly, this colt is by the exciting young sire Ardrossan, who we not only raced but retain an interest in at stud also.

The Andrew Forsman-trained gelding Leedox capitalized on a sweet inside run from Kozzi Asano to finish back on top of his rivals over 1400m at Ruakaka today.

As a two-year-old, Leedox won the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes at the same distance and in so doing, became the noted first stakes winner in New Zealand for the exciting young sire Time Test.

Since resuming this season as a three-year-old, he notably placed 4th Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas and entered today’s assignment with an encouraging last-start second.

“Leedox got into a nice position behind the lead after the jump and the race panned out well for him. The leader rolled off the rail and it all opened up for him, enabling him to kick on nicely to the line for the ½ length win,” said Forsman’s assistant trainer Robert Dennis afterward.

Today’s win took Leedox’s record to two wins and two placings from eight career starts.

Leedox was bred by Mapperley Stud’s Simms Davison and was purchased out of his 2021 Karaka Book 1 draft for $220,000 by Bruce Perry on behalf of Elsdon Park’s Lib Petagna.

A confident ride from Tim Clark saw the striking grey Iffraaj gelding Luncies deliver a deserved black-type win in the Gr.3 Tattersalls Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm today.

Justifying his pre-race favouritism, the Kris-Lees-trained six-year-old had placed second in four of his previous five starts.

After the jump, Luncies settled at the rear, but turned for home full of running, letting down strongly for Clark to cross 2.25 lengths ahead of Spirit Ridge (Nathaniel), with a further head margin back to Young Werther (Tavistock) in third.

Luncies has now realised A$878,803 from a 28-start career yielding six wins and nine placings for connections, which comprise: R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd, Mr L Petagna, B & C Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Divor, MJM Racing, Mr E J Lucas, Gurners Bloodstock Co, Mr W W Guest, Mr R J Date, Mr M F Clemenger, Mrs K D Evers, Mr M E McKeough, Mr E W Kochmanz, Mr P Filipovic, Mr G Thiele and Mr M K Evers.

In addition to being Luncies first black-type win, the win also saw him become the seventh individual stakes winner for the Elsdon Park racing team this season.

Elsdon Park’s successful seven stakes winners this season comprise: Saltcoats (Ardrossan), Kalapour (War Command), Cruz Missile (Savabeel), Milford (Savabeel), Lost And Running (Per Incanto), One Kiss (Tivaci) and Luncies (Iffraaj).

Source: NZTBA

In this week’s Dunstan Meet the Breeder, NZTBA talked to Kerrie Cox, the General Manager of Elsdon Park who spoke on behalf of Lib Petagna.

How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?

Through racing a few top-level fillies that become very hard to part with!

How many mares do you breed from?

Around 50

What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio (youngstock, racehorses etc)

40 racehorses & breakers- a few we race with in partnership, 40 weanlings and shares in a few stallions

Do you breed to retain or breed to trade?

A mix of both. We mainly breed to trade as yearlings or racehorses, however, being a commercial breeding operation we are always looking to upgrade our broodmare band so keeping some fillies from our top mares is important for the business going forward.

Do you have a favourite cross?

Not really but we do love a nice Savabeel mare

Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?

Bruce Perry has been a great adviser on both breeding and racing through JML Bloodstock over the years and this will continue with Elsdon Park. We do our best to plan matings on type, pedigree and temperament- don’t always get it right but hopefully between the 3 of us we should be alright!

Best breeding advice you have received?

Kerrie – “First and foremost aim to breed an athlete and a horse you would be happy to race yourself.”

Who do you admire in the thoroughbred breeding industry?

The advice and support offered by industry leaders such as Bruce Perry, Sam Williams and Mark Chittick have been influential on the development of the business.

If you could own any broodmare (past or present), who would it be?

Hard to go past a champion broodmare like Eight Carat but wouldn’t have said no to Cannarelle either as it would be pretty awesome to be standing I am Invincible!

What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?

Kerrie: Be resilient and patient. Listen to the advice of successful breeders, celebrate success and when things get tough, which they can at times, lean on the incredible people around you in the industry.

Proudest moment as a breeder?

The proudest moment as an owner would have to be when Lucia Valentina and Sofia Rosa both won Group 1’s at Randwick on the same day- hard to ever look past an unbelievable day like that.

Now both of these mares have become matriarchs of our broodmare band which is pretty special as a breeder.

Finish this sentence: The best part of being a thoroughbred breeder is…

The industry is full of dreamers and optimists which is very refreshing!

Interesting fact…

Lib has 5 children- his oldest are triplet sons and Elsdon Park’s 3 racing colours represent the colours that were used to identify them when they were babies.

Elsdon Park’s Ardrossan two-year-old Saltcoats provided Cambridge trainer Sam Logan with her first stakes winner on the flat today when he dominated his rivals in the Listed Barfoot and Thompson Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe Park.

The 3.5-length victory confirmed Logan’s high early estimations of the gelding.

“We’ve thought he was special since his first trial,” said Logan.

“Given that we have known he’s had major ability since day one, I feel very privileged that Lib Petagna and racing manager Bruce Perry didn’t decide to immediately send him to Australia and decided to race him in New Zealand with me first.”

Saltcoats had had two previous starts leading into today’s feature and looked as if he would lap up the 1400m distance after closing off strongly at these starts which resulted in minor placings, including finishing third to Solidify at Listed level at his previous outing.

Rider Kozzi Asano was content to settle the Saltcoats in midfield during the early stages although he was caught three-wide in the eight-horse field.

Asano slid forward to issue his challenge on the point of the home turn, where Saltcoats took control as he eased away from the field on the Heavy10 surface to record an impressive four-length victory over Paragon and Chantilly Lace.

“He was really tough today and we are so proud of him,” Logan said.

“I was a little concerned when I saw him get stuck out wide, but I trusted Kozzi’s judgement as he knows him well and the main thing is to get him into a good rhythm which is the key to him.

“Kozzi did say he handled the going okay but is a much better horse on top of the ground where he has an electric turn of foot.”

Saltcoats races in the Elsdon Park colours of Wellington businessman Lib Petagna who bred him from his lightly raced Savabeel mare Savanite, a half-sister to the Gr.2 Waikato Gold Cup (2400m) winner Singing Star.

Saltcoats represents the 4^th stakes winner bred by Elsdon Park’s JML Bloodstock banner this season behind Ethereal Star (Snitzel), Lost And Running (Per Incanto) and One Kiss (Tivaci).

The early promise shown by Kalapour (War Command) was franked in dominant fashion on Saturday, when the lightly-raced six-year-old landed his first black-type win in the Gr.3 JRA Chairman’s Hcp at Doomben.

Under the urgings of Tim Clark, Kalapour improved out wide from a midfield position and had the leaders collared in the final 100m to run, crossing the line to register the landmark half-length victory.

Purchased by his now trainer Kris Lees and Justin Bahen after four starts in the UK, Kalapour has had a total of eight starts since his Australian arrival and has rewarded connections during this time with three wins and two runner-up placings.

Kalapour, who races in the colours of Lib Petagna’s Elsdon Park, was bred by His Highness The Aga Khan’s Studs and is co-owned by Gurners Bloodstock Co (Syndicate), Joe Singh, William Guest, Michael Clemenger, Tim Watson, David Redgrove, Susan Redgrove, Todd Johns, Ian Clifton, Peter Filipovic, Janne Guest, Jill Cross, Narelle Malone, Sue Grayson, MJM Racing (Syndicate Manager Ralph Huddy), Tah Boys (Syndicate Manager Anthony).

Kalapour’s first-class staying effort on Saturday came as no surprise to Lees Racing stable representative Mel Eggleston.

“He’s just such a classy galloper and a no-fuss horse, he just does everything right,” said Mel.

“He’s the type of horse that tries to please you all the time.

“We’re looking at the 2400m in the next fortnight at Eagle Farm.”

Following in the footsteps of Cruz Missile, Milford, One Kiss and Lost and Running, Kalapour represents the fifth stakes winner celebrated by Elsdon Park’s racing team this season.

A courageous run in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday has seen the Stephen Marsh-trained 𝐋𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 (Snitzel x Lucia Valentina) clinch the honours of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Southern Filly of the Year.

The Cambridge filly went into the race with 4 points, courtesy of her last-start second in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m).

Despite nearly going down at the 600m on Saturday, Luella Cristina picked herself up under Cameron Lammas’ urgings, earning herself another 4 points with a brave runner-up finish, and effectively sealing herself the stunned admiration of her connections and the Southern Filly crown with the effort.

𝐋𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 is bred and raced by Lib Petagna’s Elsdon Park, and she is by champion Australian sire Snitzel out of the multiple Group One-winning mare Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel).

From six starts, 𝐋𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 has now recorded two wins and three black-type placings, including a third in last month’s Group One Levin Classic (1600m).

The NZB Southern Filly of the Year trophy will be presented to Elsdon Park at the South Island Awards in September. Elsdon Park will also receive an insurance policy from NZB Insurance to the value of $50,000 plus GST.

Source: NZ Racing Desk

Group One performer Andalus (NZ) (Almanzor) may get another chance at Derby glory as he settles into his new home in Australia.

The Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) runner-up has joined the Randwick barn of John O’Shea after his seventh-placed run in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at the Sydney track last Saturday.

Raced by Elsdon Park principal Lib Petagna under his JML Bloodstock banner, Andalus was met by a rain-affected track in his Australian debut, and his connections were pleased with his run despite the unfavorable track conditions.

“We were really happy with his run in the Derby, we were just disappointed that we got rain on the day. He is a horse that needs a good track,” said Bruce Perry, Petagna’s racing manager.

“He has stayed in Australia with John O’Shea and the idea is he will race as a four-year-old over there.

“If he comes through it (Derby) really well there is a chance he could go up to Brisbane.”

Andalus was purchased out of Waikato Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Perry on behalf of Petagna for $420,000.

Under the care of Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, Andalus won one and placed in four of his 11 starts in New Zealand, including stakes placings in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1000m), Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m), and New Zealand Derby.

Former stablemate Cruz Missile (NZ) (Savabeel) is also set to continue his career in Australia but is currently spelling after pulling up sore following the New Zealand Derby.

“He came out of the Derby and had pulled some muscles behind, so he has gone to the paddock,” Perry said.

“He will end up going to Australia, but he won’t be seen out as a four-year-old.”

Meanwhile, Saturday’s Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) runner-up Aprilia’s (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) future also lies in Australia.

“Aprilia is going for a break and there is a chance she will go to Melbourne for a race like the Thousand Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m), depending on what Andrew (Forsman, trainer) wants to do,” Perry said.

Elsdon Park’s racing colors have enjoyed a perfect two runners for two winners today, with two-year-olds Aprilia and Ravello celebrating juvenile success on both sides of the Tasman.

The Andrew Forsman-trained Aprilia (US Navy Flay – Miss Avalon) set the ball rolling at Matamata, winning with half a length up her sleeve under Kozzi Asano.

The 1200m victory came at her second start, with an earlier third placing being struck on debut on Cambridge’s synthetic track in February.

“We expected her to be hard to beat on debut, so we were scratching our heads a little bit that day,” reflected Forsman.

“We gave her a trip away to Avondale for a trial afterwards, and that seemed to have switched her on.  It’s good to see her go out there today and show the ability that we had seen from her at home,”

Bred by Kevin Hickman ONZM, Aprilia was purchased by Bruce Perry from Valachi Down’s Unreserved Young Stock Sale on Gavelhouse.

Aprilia, who is co-owned with Max Brown, will now target the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at Awapuni on the 1st of April.

Elsdon Park’s second two-year-old winner Ravello (Savabeel – Cover Charge) came less than an hour after Aprilia, with the exciting colt enjoying the best possible debut at Warwick Farm.

Trained by John O’Shea, Ravello was deemed a $21 shot in the market and after receiving a peach of a rails ride just behind the leader from Brenton Avdulla, pulling out in the straight to have the race at his mercy with 100m to run.

At the line, the Savabeel colt – who is co-owned with Greg Clarke and Little Avondale Stud – had the measure of his nearest rival by a neck.

Bred by Max Whitby, Ravello was purchased by Bruce Perry from Cambridge Stud’s 2022 NZB Book One yearling draft.

Happily, Elsdon Park’s office administrator Sarah Scott sealed some serious bragging rights with the win, astutely outlaying $100 on the nose for the team’s betting syndicate.

Excitingly, Ravello is nominated for the Gr.1 Inglis Sires’ (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 1^st.

This sets up a possible three Gr.1 chances for Elsdon Park on April 1^st, as in addition to Aprilia and Ravello’s assignments, the farm also has Andalus (Almanzor – Genius) stepping out for trainer Stephen Marsh in the Gr.1 Australian Derby at Royal Randwick.