Source: NZ Racing Desk, Photo Race Images PN
The Listed Barfoot & Thompson Gingernuts Salver (2100m) has become one of Stephen Marsh’s favourite stops along the road to the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), and a last-gasp triumph by Cruz Missile (NZ) (Savabeel) at Pukekohe on Sunday gave the Cambridge trainer his third win in the last four years.
Marsh had previously won the Salver with Scorpz and Milford, who both went on to make their presence felt in the Derby. Scorpz ran third to Sherwood Forest and Two Illicit in the 2020 edition of the Ellerslie classic, while Milford was runner-up behind Rocket Spade a year later.
Cruz Missile comes from a similar mould to Milford, both being sons of super-sire Savabeel and both racing in the distinctive green, blue and yellow silks of Lib Petagna’s Elsdon Park – colours that were also carried by Marsh’s 2019 Derby hero Crown Prosecutor.
Sunday’s Salver marked the first step up beyond a mile for Cruz Missile, who had made a favourable impression from his three previous career starts. He produced an eye-catching late run for second on debut over 1300m at Hastings, then failed on heavy ground at Tauranga before a dominant last-start maiden success over 1560m at Rotorua.
In a messy race, Cruz Missile landed in a perfect position sitting in third on the rail as Highly Vindicated and Loosespender set a sedate pace in front.
There were a few nervous moments after rounding the home turn, with jockey Michael McNab trying to angle Cruz Missile to the outside but being held in a pocket by Bitcoin.
By the time Cruz Missile finally found clear air, Devildom had dashed through along the inside and opened up what appeared to be a winning break.
But Cruz Missile worked through his gears and lengthened stride impressively in the final 150m, snatching victory right on the line by a long head.
Cruz Missile is the fourth stakes winner raced by Elsdon Park this season behind One Kiss, Milford and Lost And Running.
The tough Mike Moroney-trained Savabeel gelding Milford produced another dominant black-type display to land today’s Gr.3 Lomaro’s Hotel Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.
Jockey Blake Shinn had the front runners within striking distance upon straightening and with 200m to go, had the race at his mercy, crossing with half a length to spare from El Gladiator (Ghibellines).
Milford is raced by Elsdon Park’s Lib and Katrina Petagna along with Greg Clarke and David and Nicki Wilson. To date, he has provided great cause for celebrations with a total of three stakes wins and with a bold runner-up performance in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby.
Milford registered his first stake win in New Zealand’s Listed Te Akau Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie when he was trained by Stephen Marsh. He reiterated this black-type class upon transfer to the Melbourne yard of Mike Moroney, with victory following in the Gr.3 Easter Cup (2000m).
Milford was purchased by Bloodstock agent Bruce Perry for $360,000 from Waikato Stud’s 2019 NZB Book One Yearling draft.
Bred by Waikato Stud, Milford is out of the unraced O’Reilly mare Etiquette and hails from the Gr.1 family of Sacred Falls.
Milford represents the third individual stakes winner this season for the Elsdon Park racing team, with successful earlier counterparts including One Kiss (Tivaci) in the Listed CJC Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) and Lost and Running (Per Incanto) in Randwick’s Gr.2 ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m).
Today proved a very special day at the farm, with our multiple Gr.1 winning mare Lucia Valentina delivering a beautiful filly by I Am Invincible.
As you can see, Lucia (and the team) are justifiably smitten…
The Elsdon Park-filly One Kiss (Tivaci) notched the landmark first stakes winner for the season today, with a smart win in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.
The win came at just her second start, with the Mark Walker-trained 3YO powering home under jockey Opie Bosson to hold her nearest rival by three-quarters of a length.
The win is made particularly special as not only did Lib and Katrina breed her, but they also raced her sire Tivaci.
Looking ahead, One Kiss holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 50th New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton Park on November 12.
This marks the second stakes winner for One Kiss’s dam Discreet Evening (USA) (Discreet Cat), with her Savabeel daughter Santa Catarina having won the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes.
Discreet Evening is booked to visit Tivaci at Waikato Stud this season, whilst daughter Santa Catarina carries a pregnancy to Alabama Express and is due to foal any day now at Elsdon Park.
Australasia has welcomed a new thoroughbred vendor to its ranks today, with Elsdon Park officially coming to life.
Established by Lib and Katrina Petagna, Elsdon Park is a private thoroughbred breeding operation dedicated to the development of elite racehorses.
“We are all so excited to begin this new venture for Lib and Katrina,” said Elsdon Park’s General Manager Kerrie Cox.
“How fitting that our journey begins on the first day of a new season.
“There is a real buzz in the air with our first foal not far away and we can’t wait to get stuck in.”