Galloping Chat

I wouldn't think any of our very best would stay here after the guineas races. There's nothing left in the pattern here for them after that unless they are middle distance prospects. Have to go to Oz if they are G1 level and potential top broodmare or stallion prospects don't they?

Both the pedigree and the racetrack performances of Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel) make her a major drawcard in the latest fortnightly auction on gavelhouse.com. Bidding currently stands at $27,000 for the royally bred Group Two performer and is due to close around 7.30pm on Monday. Manifique is by New Zealand’s 10-time champion sire Savabeel, who is also putting together an outstanding record as a broodmare sire. His daughters have produced the Group One winners Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci), Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls), Savatoxl (Kuroshio), Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner), Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) and Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto). The dam of Manifique is New Zealand’s 2011-12 Champion Stayer, Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar), who won 12 races including the Group One Livamol Classic (2040m), Zabeel Classic (2000m), Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Auckland Cup (3200m), along with the Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on the Gold Coast. Her three Group One placings included the Queensland Derby (2400m) and Queensland Oaks (2400m). Shez Sinsational is the dam of four winners including Manifique as well as her high-class half-sisters Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and House Of Cartier (Alamosa). That pair were Group Two and Group Three winners respectively, and they also placed at Group One level – Sinarahma in the Thorndon Mile (1600m) and House Of Cartier in the Australasian Oaks (2000m). Another of Manifique’s half-sisters, Repenting (NZ) (Ekraar), is the dam of the dual stakes winner Our Hail Mary (NZ) (Ocean Park). Manifique was a $420,000 yearling purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2020 by her part-owner Glen Cotterill. From 26 starts, Manifique has recorded four wins and six placings and has earned $174,635 in stakes. She made a huge impression with back-to-back victories in the spring of 2023, winning a Rating 75 at New Plymouth by four and a half lengths before a stunning eight-length runaway in a $70,000 open handicap at Trentham. Manifique went on to add some black type to her impressive CV, finishing second in this year’s Group Two Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) and recording a pair of fourth placings in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). Spelled not long after her Awapuni Gold Cup placing in the autumn, Manifique has now returned to Didham’s Awapuni stable and has been showing good signs in her pacework and gallops. She is being sold as either a racing or breeding proposition. Manifique is one of 53 lots currently open for bidding on gavelhouse.com. Bidding will close on the first lot from 7pm on Monday. View the full article

Peter Moody has indicated Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride of Dubai) may be ready for a step up in trip this campaign. Desert Lightning is set to kick off his latest campaign that could lead the gelding to a start in the Caulfield Cup. The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained six-year-old is down to run first-up in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Desert Lightning is one of ten runners in Saturday’s race following the scratching of the Chris Waller-trained Full Count Felicia. Saturday’s outing will be Desert Lightning’s first since finishing fourth in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June, finishing just behind Private Eye who is favourite for the P B Lawrence Stakes. Moody said Desert Lightning enjoyed some extra time in the Queensland warmth before returning to the Pakenham stables of his trainers last month. Desert Lightning started his career in New Zealand with Peter Williams and was transferred into the care of Moody and Coleman after contesting the 2024 All-Star Mile at Caulfield. In his time with his Pakenham trainers, Desert Lightning has not been beyond 1600m, but Moody indicated that may change this campaign. Desert Lightning holds a nomination for both the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 and the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley a week later. “We may give him his chance to stretch out in trip this time around,” Moody said. “The Caulfield Cup, that’s all pie in the sky stuff at the moment, but we may give him his chance. “He has won out to 2100 metres as a younger horse and I don’t think we’ve had him out past a mile since he’s been with us and that was in the Toorak last year.” Desert Lightning will jump from gate one and will be ridden by Ben Melham. “Barrier one, it’s the shortest way home,” Moody said. “He had a few weeks out after his last run, did a few weeks trot and canter, had a couple of little gallops, and then we got back home. “He enjoyed the benefit of a bit of Queensland weather on his back and he had a jump-out at Caulfield the other day and he seems in good order. “It’s a very competitive race, as you would expect, but he goes into it in good order.” View the full article

The Oaks Stud’s silks were to the fore in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) six years ago when carried to victory by Catalyst, and this year they are hoping to feature once more. Farm principal Dick Karreman will be represented by two fillies in this year’s running at Ruakaka on Saturday, including Group One performer Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Cashla Bay (NZ) (U S Navy Flag). The Andrew Forsman-trained Cashla Bay recorded her second career victory when winning at the Northland track first-up a fortnight ago, while the Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained Tajana will be having her first hit-out of the season. The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams is excited about the prospects of both fillies, and while he believes Cashla Bay is the better chance this weekend, he thinks bigger things are instore for Tajana this spring. “It is great to have two promising horses in there,” he said. “We managed to win it a few years ago with Catalyst, so it would be nice to get back up there. “Tajana is the class horse of the field on what she has achieved so far, but she could be vulnerable at 1200m depending on the speed up front. “The other filly (Cashla Bay), with the one run under her belt, she might be the better chance at this stage. “Long-term we are pretty excited about Tajana, once she gets up to a mile. “The (New Zealand) 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) is the grand final for her, and it would be lovely to win it again. We have managed it a few times, but you can never win a Guineas too often.” Tajana has been enjoying a week up at Ruakaka in her trainers’ annual migration to the northern venue, and Williams has received positive reports in the lead-up to Saturday. “I think the sun on their backs and a couple of days warmer does them well,” Williams said. “I was talking with Shaune yesterday (Wednesday) and he said they are doing very well and they are loving it. “It is a good break, and it is a good thing to do for the horses at this time of the year.” Another The Oaks Stud representative that has enjoyed the week up at Ruakaka is Alaskan. The four-year-old daughter of Niagara is pleasing Ritchie and Murray in the lead-up to her spring campaign, with Williams identifying the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November has her major target. She won one of her six starts as a three-year-old but was strong late in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham in March when running into sixth. “Alaskan is a very promising stayer in my view,” Williams said. “We are heading towards the New Zealand Cup, that is Plan A. Adjustments have to be made of course if they don’t win the races they need to win to get into the race.” Meanwhile, Williams said The Oaks Stud’s star three-year-old of last season, Savaglee, is enjoying some time on the water-walker following an injury scare. “Savaglee is on the water treadmill over at Lyndhurst Farm,” he said. “He had a bit of a joint issue, but no surgery was required, it was more of a time thing. “We decided to take and ultraconservative approach with him as he had a pretty busy two years. We decided to forego the spring and aim for a late summer-early autumn campaign in Australia if we can get there. “He is such an intelligent animal, you can do anything with him, unlike most colts. “He will be at Lyndhurst for four or five weeks and then he will head back to Pam’s (Gerard, trainer) stable in mid-to-late September to start a long, slow build-up, but in himself he is fantastic.” Savaglee won five and placed in three of his eight starts as a three-year-old, including victories in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Gr.2 James and Annie Saren Memorial (1400m), Gr.2 Levin Classic (1600m), and placed in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) and Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m). Williams is hoping the farm can have more success across the Tasman, with a couple of runners in the care of Flemington trainer Steve Richards. “We have got two or three good horses in Australia with my son, Dean, who is with Steve Richards,” Williams said. “Antrim Coast came back really well the other day, we think we have got him finally right again, and Raziah had a nice first-up run, so we are excited about the racing team at the moment.” View the full article

It also means she is not eligible for the KM 3 year old race at a a very Aus competitive 1.5 mil. I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing, as they will aim her for the 2,000 Guineas then straight off to Aus, so we will not get to see her race in NZ again. And I guess for all you old lags lol, one of the romantics attractions still of racing in NZ, is seeing top horses race here