Once again on Saturday, Rich Hill Stud’s foundation stallion, Pentire (GB) was in the thick of the race results.  It was for the second week in a row, in stakes events, and in doing so he highlighted the importance to clients of New Zealand’s Premier yearling sale that’s held at Karaka each year.

   Last week at Randwick, the highly touted Rangirangdoo, stepped up to the plate to claim the Group 3 Tramway Handicap (1400m). 

  This week it was Zarita’s turn. 

  At Moonee Valley Zarita was turned out in magnificent order by her trainer Pat Hyland, and she overcame a severe buffeting to claim a last stride win in the Group Two Stocks Stakes (1600m).

  If Zarita, didn’t have the fine qualities of courage and class she would not have won the Stock Stakes.

  Settling in a good position under her rider Dwayne Dunn, that position in running nearly became Dunn’s nightmare, with rival riders ensuring, and rightly so, that Zarita (the race favourite) wouldn’t have a nice easy time.  Riding within the rules, they kept her tight without any room, and rounding the turn, Dunn showed his class as a jockey to keep Zarita well balanced as she was pinballed between runners. 

  When the gap did open up the bay daughter of Pentire only had one hundred metres to haul in the highballing Cats Whisker (Fusaichi Pegasus – Perfect Halo by Don’t Say Halo).  Dunn rebalanced Zarita and they burst from the ruck to snatch a nose victory over the last start Let’s Elope Stakes heroine.

   Soul Diva (Grand Lodge – Marcia by Marscay) was another length away in third.

   Zarita’s trainer, Pat Hyland, has never lost faith in the SAJC Derby and Oaks winning mare, who he described as the best he’s had since Saleous.

   Speaking with TVN’s Bruce Clark, Hyland had a huge smile on his face, and was understandably proud (since he rides her work as well), telling Clark;  “she’s a bloody good mare,”

“I’m just happy to get a win on the board with her.”

  Dunn, echoed the praise, telling Clark “Her legs hardly touched the ground when we were so tight – I had Glen Boss on my outside and I new he wouldn’t give me any favours”

“She was good enough to bustle her way through,” Dunn said.

  Clark was clearly impressed with Zarita’s efforts as well. 

  Pressing, Dunn, further the jockey said; “I would like to thank Lee Freedman for releasing me to ride this mare…I’ve learned a lot about her since I began riding her and now I give her a little pipe opener on the way to the barriers, so I was a pleased that she gave me a good turn of foot – when I asked for it from her.

Adding, “She really zoomed to them nicely and had her ears pricked.”

  Zarita has competed at the highest elite level for most of her career and last spring she ran a blinder at Moonee Valley when she finished fourth to Maldivian in Australia’s show case weight-for-age race, the Group I WS Cox Plate (2040m). 

  This year Hyland hopes she can go four spots better.

   Unlike, Zarita, Rangirangdoo has gone through his classes and every time he’s stepped out he’s caught the eye of his trainer, Chris Waller.

  Rangirangdoo had built as very good record and the Group 3 at Randwick was his biggest test.  He came through it with flying colours and now heads the pre-posts markets for the Group I Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October, 3rd.

  An advertisement that New Zealand Bloodstock sales company just can’t buy, both horses were selected from the company’s premier session of the sale in 2006.   

  Rangirangdoo was selected by Plumb Racing Qld and cost $170,000.  His record reads, six wins, four placings from ten starts with more than $260,000 in the bank.   While Zarita was a $195,000 purchase and this talented mare has returned her owners $1.5million in earnings. 

  A half-sister to Group 2 winner Run Like the Wind (by Pins) and the five-time Hong Kong stakes earning winner Joy and Fun (By Cullen).  Zarita is the forth foal of the unraced Defensive Play mare Gin Player, a daughter of dual Group 3 winner Gin Rhythm (by Western Symphony) and a grand-daughter of the top-class mare Zasu (by Kaoru Star), winner of the Group I AJC Champagne Stakes and Queensland Oaks.

  Rangirangdoo is out of the Group 3 stakes placed She Wishes (by Kenfair), a daughter of Miss Saigon (by King Island) the dam of the Group 2 winner, Satinka (by Stravinsky).    She Wishes is also the dam of the Group 3 Sha Tin Sprint Trophy runner-up, Master Hunter (by O’Reilly).

  Underlining Pentire’s position in producing top notch racehorses for the Australian market, his flashy chestnut son Pergola (ex Gondolin by Zabeel), ran down the odds on favourite, Pass Me By (Savoire Vivre – Regal Poem by Our Poetic Prince), in the Open Hcp over 2500m at Moonee Valley on Saturday, giving Pentire another metropolitan double on the day.

  Back on a good track, Pergola produced a tough staying effort to nail Pass Me By to land the prize by a long head, and fully repay his connections taking his earnings past $77,000. 

  Another Karaka 2006 purchase, this time from the Select session of the sale, Pergola set his trainer Colin Alderson back $54,000. Pentire, also had another competitor in the Open Hcp, in Sentire (ex Sent to War by Centaine) and he collected third prizemoney for his connections.

  Pentire (Be My Guest ex Gull Nook byMill Reef) stands at Rich Hill Stud, and his fee this spring is only NZ$27,500 (plus gst).  Breeders, better get in soon or he’ll be fully subscribed and Rich Hill will have the ‘book closed’ sign up.

Permalink| Sep 13, 2009

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