Category Archives: Pentire

Kiwis Quinella G1 Australian Guineas

Posted on by

NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK RELEASE – Saturday’s A$500,000 Group 1 Australian Guineas headlined a big day for New Zealand with the Karaka graduates Ferlax (NZ) and Your So Good (NZ) the first two home in the Australian feature at Flemington.

The victory by Karaka Select Sale graduate Ferlax (Pentire x Legs Akimbo) marked a huge performance from both the horse and his trainer Jim Conlan with Saturday’s race not only Ferlax’s first at stakes level, but also his first metropolitan race. The three-year-old now remains unbeaten in his four career starts to date.

Ferlax’s victory made it two Australian Guineas wins in the last three years for NZ and Karaka with Shamrocker (O’Reilly) winning in 2011, and also headed a Group double by Karaka graduates at the Flemington meeting with Tavarnelle (Zabeel) winning the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes.

The three-year-old Ferlax could not have been more impressive in his Guineas performance. Running on the pace and sticking to the rails in the straight, jockey Stephen Baster asked Ferlax to quicken 350 metres out and the response was immediate as he took the lead 200 metres from home and held off the fast finishing Your So Good (Savabeel) to win by three-quarters of a length.

“He is a very exciting horse,” commented Jim Conlan. “We put the blinkers on him and galloped him last Tuesday and he felt great so we thought we had better give him a crack at the race.

“This is a stallion-making race and he has a nice pedigree so we need to be careful where we place him now.

“We have the Sydney Carnival coming up but we may yet back off him and head for a race like the Group 1 All Aged Stakes or the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap while he is still able to get in ok in the weights.”

The Guineas was also just the fourth start for the Nigel Blackiston trained Your So Good who produced a late finish to claim second place. The filly ran second to Alzora (Redoute’s Choice) at her last start in the Group 3 The Vanity at Flemington and looks another exciting prospect for her young sire Savabeel.

Bred by Bloodstock Resources Ltd & Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd, Ferlax was purchased by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock from the 2011 Karaka Select Sale for $180,000. Now raced by Pinecliff Racing and Mr D Dexter he has earned over $400,000 from his four unbeaten starts.

Ferlax is the latest star to emerge from New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka Select Sale, a session that has already celebrated Australian Group 1 success this season courtesy of Cox Plate winner Ocean Park (Thorn Park).

Ferlax is the 37th stakes winner and 12th Group 1 winner for his sire Pentire who stands at Rich Hill Stud. Pentire has enjoyed considerable success in Australia Group 1 winners Rangirangdoo, (King) Mufhasa, Zarita, Pantani, Art Success and Markus Maximus.

Pentire’s son makes jump to Guineas winner

Posted on by

Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) was yet another example of how quickly fortunes can rise and fall in the fluid world of racing.

Hawkes Racing had All Too Hard (Casino Prince – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) primed to blitz his lesser-performed opposition 24 hours early but the team decided on a cautious reaction to a minor ailment, withdrawing the expensive colt from the $500,000 event.

The Hawkes men had no compunction about scratching All Too Hard after the CF Orr and Futurity Stakes winner showed signs of a cold, which cost him a shot at becoming the first horse since Mahogany in 1994 to complete the Caulfield Guineas and Australian Guineas double.

“You wouldn’t have known (All Too Hard had an issue), if we hadn’t taken his temperature this morning we wouldn’t have known because he licked the bin, looked bright as a button and looked normal,” Wayne Hawkes, who trains All Too Hard in partnership with his father John and brother Michael, said.

“In human terms he has got a cold and for a $20 million colt we can’t take the risk.”

The reverse was true for prominent Victorian owner Jonathan Munz and trainer Jim Conlan, they had nothing to lose by running emerging colt Ferlax (Pentire – Legs Akimbo, by Marscay) in the Australian Guineas after wins on Victorian provincial tracks at his three starts.

Ferlax took on Group 1 company after winning in Rating 68 grade at Sale but he did beat older horses comfortably at his last run before his shot at the top level.

Stephen Baster rode Ferlax positively early in the Australian Guineas, pushing forward to find his mount the perfect position behind the leader from barrier eight in a move that would subsequently land him a 12-meeting careless riding suspension.

Baster initially attempted to steer Ferlax to the outside of the front-runner Ajeeb (Al Maher – Destiny, by Bureaucracy) at the 400 metres but had to go back to the inside to find the room required for his mount to dash home late. Ferlax quickened well to break more than a length clear before holding off a determined bid for victory from the Nigel Blackiston-trained You’re So Good (Savabeel – Lightning Spur, by Flying Spur) by a length while the Redoute’s Choice (Danehill – Shantha’s Choice, by Canny Lad) colt Sheer Talent (Redoute’s Choice – St Katherine, by Barathea) was third.

“I galloped him on Tuesday where I put the blinkers on and just sat him off a horse, an ordinary horse, but I sat him back off it and he gave me a great feel,” Conlan said.

“We’ve just got to be careful about how we place him now because this is obviously a stallion-making race and he has got a nice pedigree, he’s out of a nice Marscay mare.

“We’ve got Sydney coming up but it might even be ideal to back off him and look at maybe going to the All Aged (Stakes) or maybe even going to the Stradbroke (Handicap) while he is still going to get in okay with the weights.”

Ferlax became the 12th Group 1 winner and the 37th stakes victory for Rich Hill Stud stallion Pentire (Be My Guest – Gull Nook, by Mill Reef). The colt’s dam Legs Akimbo (Marscay – Leggings, by Tights) fetched just $800 at a broodmare auction in New Zealand  in 2012 before Munz bought the mare privately earlier this year.

Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock paid $NZ180,000 for Ferlax at the 2011 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka. The three-year-old has now earned $327,000 in four starts.

Mufhasa back to best in Challenge Stakes

Posted on by

New Zealand marvel Mufhasa (Pentire – Sheila Cheval, by Mi Preferido) corrected a minor quirk in his wonderful record with his dominant win in Saturday’s Group 3 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni.

The greatest son of Rich Hill Stud resident Pentire (Be My Guest – Gull Nook, by Mill Reef) has compiled 10 Group 1 wins on both sides of the Tasman Sea during his 56-start career but had met defeat at his previous two outings at Group 3 level in the 2011 and 2012 editions of the Tauranga Stakes (1600m). Interestingly, Mufhasa’s Challenge Stakes appearance was just his fourth outside Group 1 company in his 36 starts since achieving his maiden win at the highest level in the 2009 Telegraph Handicap (1200m).

Mufhasa ran a solid second in the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham last time out but the drop back to lesser grade was certainly no snack for the eight-year-old with his last-start conqueror Final Touch (Kashani – My Lydia, by Umatilla) and four-time Singapore Group 1 winner Better Than Ever (French Deputy – Songfest, by Unbridled’s Song) among his opposition in the $NZ70,000 affair.

However, a terrific front-running ride from Mufhasa’s regular partner Samantha Spratt gave the Steven McKee-trained star every chance to defeat his well performed opposition. Spratt controlled the speed beautifully from the front to give Mufhasa a chance to outsprint his rivals in the straight, an opportunity trans-Tasman stars relish, as he strode away to record his 20th win – the 13th with Spratt aboard – from 56 starts.

10 Group 1 wins for Pentire’s champion

Posted on by

Pentire’s (Be My Guest – Gull Nook, by Mill Reef) champion son Mufhasa (Pentire – Sheila Cheval, by Mi Preferido) had little trouble recording an amazing 10th Group 1 victory in Saturday’s Windsor Park Plate (2000m) at Hastings.

Up-and-coming four-year-old Ocean Park (Thorn Park – Sayyida, by Zabeel) lowered Mufhasa’s colours days before he was crowned New Zealand’s Racehorse of the Year but the eight-year-old gelding hit back from a first-up defeat in the Group 1 Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) with a resounding performance.

Mufhasa jumped brilliantly for regular rider Sam Spratt before taking up his usual front-running role. Spratt rated Mufhasa perfectly in the weight-for-age event before the eight-year-old showed his customary acceleration to open a three-length gap on his rivals with 200 metres to travel.

The old master showed he had lost nothing in the way of dash, easily holding his rivals at bay to record an easy three-quarters of a length win. The victory was Mufhasa’s 19th of his wonderful 52-start career and took his stakes earnings to more than $NZ3.3 million.

The New Zealand superstar cost just $NZ50,000 at the 2006 NZB Select Yearling Sale.

Meanwhile, champion Arrowfield stallion Redoute’s Choice (Danehill – Shantha’s Choice, by Canny Lad) earned his 91st stakes winner when Pure Elegance (Redoute’s Choice – Our Echezeaux, by Zabeel) posted a solid victory in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings.

 

Rich Hill Stud to leave Pentire’s fee unchanged

Posted on by

New Zealand breeder Rich Hill Stud has decided to leave Pentire’s (Be My Guest – Gull Nook, by Mill Reef) service fee unchanged despite the success of the likes of (King) Mufhasa (Pentire – Sheila Cheval, by Mi Preferido) and Say No More (Pentire – Our Lucy, by Walking Ring) this season.

(King) Mufhasa has won Group 1 races on both sides of the Tasman Sea this season while Say No More developed into a Group 1 performer in New Zealand this season.

Rich Hill Stud manager John Thompson said Pentire’s fee would remain at $NZ30,000 (plus GST) for the upcoming breeding season in a bid to keep the top stallion affordable to broodmare owners.

“He has had another great year with top-flight performers the calibre of (King) Mufhasa, Say No More, Rangirangdoo and He’s Remarkable,” Thompson said.

“By leaving his fee unchanged it will give breeders the opportunity to continue to patronise a leading stallion at a realistic price.”

Rich Hill has decided to lift the service fee for Any Suggestion (Lion Hunter – Advisable, by Regal Advice) to $NZ7500 (plus GST) after a strong showing with his first crop of juveniles.

Any Suggestion produced the stakes winner Ockham’s Razor (Any Suggestion – Shadow Ray, by Groom Dancer) as well as two other winners to take a stranglehold on the New Zealand First Season Sires’ title as well as the NZ Two-Year-Old Sires’ premiership.

Thompson also advised the Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy (Mark Of Esteem – Percy’s Lass, by Blakeney) would not shuttle to New Zealand in 2012.

Pentire stallion claims Newcastle Newmarket

Posted on by

Handy New Zealand miler He’s Remarkable (Pentire – Axiom, by Zabeel) took a step towards erasing the terrible memories of his last trip to Australia with a decisive success in Wednesday’s Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket Handicap (1400m).

He’s Remarkable’s last trip to Australia turned sour when Perth stewards stripped the stallion of the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) after a controversial protest decision in December last year.

The Roger James-trained galloper has returned to Australia to chase a richer prize, the Group 1 Doncaster Mile in Sydney next month. The four-year-old took a step towards the multi-million-dollar race with a strong win in the Newcastle feature.

“He’ll harden up with that run,” James told Sky Racing World.

“I didn’t give him a trial coming into this so he’ll take plenty of improvement from the run.”

James said He’s Remarkable would run in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) before taking on Australia’s best milers in the Doncaster Mile.

The victory was He’s Remarkable’s first win in 10 Stakes attempts.

The stallion became the 36th individual stakes winner for Pentire (Be My Guest – Gull Nook, by Mill Reef).

Mufhasa the king of Caulfield again

Posted on by

Pentire (Be My Guest – Gull Nook, by Mill Reef) gelding (King) Mufhasa (Pentire – Sheila Cheval, by Mi Preferido) matched Black Caviar’s (Bel Esprit – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) feat of nine Group 1 wins with his success in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Black Caviar has posted her victories in her 19-start unbeaten run but (King) Mufhasa’s efforts should not be underestimated with his wins coming on both sides of the Tasman Sea.

(King) Mufhasa won the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield in the 2011 spring. The seven-year-old had no trouble with the Melbourne circuit after leading all the way to record his 18th win from 48 starts.

“It’s good to see him go back to back (G1 wins in Australia) and you always like them to frank their form and he did that today,” the gelding’s trainer Stephen McKee said.

“He has always run against Group 1 level for the best part of his career so it’s good to see him get another one.

“We might look at the George Ryder (Stakes) again or the All Aged (Stakes) or both, but we will just look at how he takes the heat today and the trip home.”

Meanwhile, outstanding New Zealand galloper Veyron (Thorn Park – Over The Limit, by Centro) posted the third Group 1 win of his 19-start career with his comfortable win in the Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Stakes (1600m).

Veyron won his 12th race in the $200,000 event. The six-year-old son of Thorn Park (Spinning World – Joy, by Bluebird) defeated Lady Kipling (Savabeel – Akela, by Al Akbar) by a length with Guiseppina (Johar – Battocchi, by Success Express) a head away in third.

Pentire colt tops Select Sale at $230,000

Posted on by

A colt by the proven Gr 1 sire Pentire (GB) topped New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2012 Select Sale when selling for $230,000 on Friday afternoon.¬†Out of the Zabeel mare Sunshine Gold, the colt from Haunui Farm was secured by Hawkes Racing, adding to the stable’s total haul of seven yearlings bought from Karaka this week for $1.4 million.

Commenting on their sale-topper, Wayne Hawkes says they were initially attracted to the pedigree by a close relative that they had previously purchased at Karaka.¬†”We bought Luck of Smiling – the half-brother by Elusive City – for $40,000 as a yearling and he went up to Macau and he’s about the fourth best horse up there.”

Pentire - Sunshine Gold colt

Pentire - Sunshine Gold colt

“Dad took one look at this colt and said we had to have him. He’s a better sort than Luck of Smiling and he’s by a proven sire in Pentire so we were sold.¬†We like the Pentires – we bought the highest priced Pentire in New Zealand last year for $520,000, out of Platinum Blonde, and we really like the way he is coming along.

“We always love coming to New Zealand and buying those kiwi staying horses and are really happy with what was there this year.”

Hawkes Racing, represented at Karaka by John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, paid a top price of $420,000 for the Zabeel colt at Lot 152 of the Premier Sale. This contributed to the team ending up in the top five leading buyers for the week.

Pentire has provided three of the top five prices of the Select Sale. The other two were the $170,000 filly purchased by John White Bloodstock for his Australian client at Lot 724, and the $170,000 colt bought by Cranbourne trainer Robbie Laing at Lot 1120.

$170,000 Pentire filly tops Select Day 1

Posted on by

A filly by Pentire (GB) topped the opening session of the NZB three-day Select Sale today at Karaka,when offered as the second to last lot of the day.

Offered by Mark & Denny Baker’s Hallmark Stud, the filly from Redoute’s Choice mare Eyes Light Up at Lot 724 was secured by John White Bloodstock. “She was just a real smart filly, purchased for Bevan Laming in Queensland.¬†”He’ll think about it over the next few days whether he sends them to his Brisbane or Melbourne stable.”

Pentire - Eyes Light Up filly

Pentire - Eyes Light Up filly

Two lots sold for $160,000 earlier in the day.¬†The first came at Lot 576, when the colt by freshman sire Any Suggestion (Lion Hunter) was knocked down to the bid of Western Australia trainer Wally Mitchell. With Any Suggestion claiming Sunday night’s Karaka Million winner, Ockham’s Razor, Mitchell identified this colt as an ideal prospect for next year’s $1 million incentive race.

“We bought him mainly for the Karaka Million and we will be aiming for that. He will stay with Murray Baker in preparation for the big race. We nearly made the field this year with Testimonial Mac and we are keen to have another go at it.¬†He had a strength that drew me to him, I owned Placid Ark who was Horse of the Year and he reminded me a lot of him with a similar build through the shoulder.”

“We were also the under-bidder on the three-quarter brother to So You Think and we were disappointed to not get him as we got to $775,000. We ended up purchasing Lot 69 by High Chaparral, the three-quarter brother to Monaco Consul (Lot 69), and overall we are very happy with what we’ve got at Karaka.”

Later in the Sale Lot 665 shared the top spot when knocked down to South African agent Andy Williams’ Worldwide Bloodstock. The colt by Towkay, offered by Little Avondale Stud, is from the Dance Floor mare Dancing Daze.

Pentire mare claims Thorndon Mile

Posted on by

Four-year-old mare Say No More ( Pentire – Our Lucy, by Walking Ring) became the latest Group 1-winning miler for Rich Hill Stud stallion Pentire (Be My Guest – Gull Nook, by Mill Reef) in Saturday’s Group 1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham in New Zealand.

Say No More joined the likes of Rangirangdoo (Pentire – She Wishes, by Kenfair), Mufhasa (Pentire – Sheila Cheval, by Mi Preferido) and Penny Gem (Pentire – Gemscay, by Maizcay) as 1600-metre winners at the highest level with her success in the $NZ200,000 event.

Say No More settled midfield for apprentice Rosie Myers before unleashing a terrific sprint to dash two lengths clear of her opposition with 200 metres to run. The margin proved more than enough as Say No More defeated Postmans Daughter (Postponed – Kinjabelle, by Kinjite) and Jetset Lad (Elusive City – Jetset Lass, by Jetball).

The win was the up and coming mare’s fifth in nine starts. Her trainer Paul Duncan said he would probably aim Say No More at lucrative races during the Brisbane winter carnival.

“She’s shown a lot all the way through and has just got stronger and stronger,” Duncan told Trackside.

“There are some nice races like the Winter Stakes over there for this mare and I’d like to take Midnight Oil over too. She had a setback but is coming along now.”

Say No More became the 35th individual stakes winner for Pentire. Her breeders did not offer her for auction at any sale as a yearling.