Chief Stipe

Once again BOAY brings you the full news first! Well after Guerin.

Racing: Southland stunner Pivotal Ten gets chance to shine in NZB Kiwi By Michael Guerin NZ Herald· 20 Feb, 2025 06:27 AM3 mins to read Save Share Pivotal Ten with Samantha Wynne after winning Saturday's Southland Guineas at Invercargill. Photo / Supplied New Zealand’s richest ever race now has its fairy tale southern flavour after Pivotal Ten secured a slot in the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi last night. The Canterbury filly is trained and ridden by jockey Samantha Wynne and cost owner Colin Wightman just $15,000 at the National Weanling Sale in 2022. She has emerged as one of the surprise stars of the New Zealand racing summer having won her last five races, including the NZB Insurance Stakes, Gore Guineas and a stunning victory in the Southland Guineas at Invercargill on Saturday. They are all black-type races and that was enough to convince the Selangor Turf Club (STC) from Malaysia they should take a chance on the southern filly in the new slot race at Ellerslie on March 8. Bloodstock agent and auctioneer Mike Kneebone, who works in the Asian market for New Zealand Bloodstock, has fostered the relationship between New Zealand and Malaysia and the STC slot holders put him in charge of securing the right horse. “We worked hard to get them this filly who we just love and are thrilled to get her,” said Kneebone. “We have all seen her class as she has gotten better every start this summer and she is not only a really good filly but it is a great story. “Everybody knows how passionate and proud South Island racing fans are and here they have one of their own, a horse who has done her racing all around the South Island, in the richest race we have ever held in this country.” The STC reps only bought their slot in the NZB Kiwi in November, when it was auctioned at the Ready To Run sale at Karaka, with part of the price they paid going to charity. “They were really big on having a crack at the slot because of the charity component and wanting to show their support for New Zealand racing,” Kneebone said. “They are very excited about being part of the day. They already have a group of 20 booked to make the trip down for the race.” Pivotal Ten is an example of the shrinking racing world as she is by former shuttle stallion Ten Sovereigns from the British-bred mare Woodcote Lass, who was brought into New Zealand by the late Kevin Hickman’s Valachi Downs operation. She is trained and driven by Irish-born and raised Wynne, who is popular for her skills, attitude and accent and will now race in a slot owned by a group of racing enthusiasts from Malaysia. “It is such a cool story on so many levels and great for the NZB Kiwi,” Kneebone said. A deal is believed to be in the offing that could see another party purchase a share in Pivotal Ten but even if that goes ahead it will not affect her NZB Kiwi campaign.

Yeah a bit like buying a new car and after a week taking it back because you don't like the colour and expecting what you paid for it! Although there was a bug in the software initially where you did get 100% back.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/racing/racing-southland-stunner-gets-chance-to-shine/KHZMYZNUFNFLPF2RWOH7M5KR6Q/ Must be true it's in the NZ Herald.

Well you are "close" to the source so...

Hyperbole at its worst. I guess Brendan doesn't know the Hokitika track was closed down 6 years ago or that the Hokitika beach is unsuitable for training on.

That's the total race time. What has been its quickest sectional in any race? Including that one. As for being "on the bridle" it was slowing down and had to be whipped twice to be "ridden through the line". They weren't taps or for "training purposes".

How did the last one you bought do?

Vegas Queen seeking coveted NZB Kiwi berth 19 February, 2025 • 3:01 PM Joshua Smith joshuasmithnz Share There are only a few slots to fill in next month’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), and Ruakaka filly Vegas Queen will be seeking to secure one of them when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to contest the Listed Trevor & Coralie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). The daughter of Proisir scored her maiden win at her home track as a juvenile in July and has hardly put a foot wrong as a three-year-old, running fourth in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) before posting two runner-up results at Ellerslie, including the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions night last month. A number of NZB Kiwi slot holders have been circling the filly, but none have yet to bite, with Vegas Queen getting her final chance to impress this weekend in what will be a dress rehearsal for the richest three-year-old race in the southern hemisphere on Champions Day, March 8. The Uncle Remus field comprises four confirmed NZB Kiwi runners in Checkmate, Dealt With, Penman and Sethito, and trainer Kenny Rae believes his filly can match it with her more fancied opponents this weekend. “It is a big step up for her, but I think she is up to it,” he said. “She is the best horse in Ruakaka, if that means anything. “I was rapt with her run (in the Almanzor Trophy). She missed the start a wee bit and Jasmine (Fawcett, jockey) used her up a bit to get up there, but she had a good draw. You can’t complain when you are getting $47,000 for second.” Rae had planned on heading to the South Island with his filly to tackle some stakes targets, however, he opted to remain in the north following her Almanzor Trophy performance. “She was going to go down for the Dunedin Guineas (Listed, 1600m), but she went well at Ellerslie, so we decided to keep her up here,” he said. Vegas Queen, a relation of champion mare Winx, will jump from barrier seven on Saturday where she will once again be ridden by Fawcett. “Seven is a good draw for her. She will tuck in right behind them somewhere,” Rae said. While hopeful of gaining an NZB Kiwi berth, Rae said he isn’t fazed if his filly misses out, highlighting that he has another lucrative target in-mind for her on Champions Day in the form of the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy (1500m). “Everybody is sitting playing the waiting game,” Rae said. “I would be quite happy to go to the Windsor Park, she is only a young horse and there is plenty of time. “We may give her a small break (after Champions Day) and then look for something for her in the autumn or the spring even. She will be better as a four and five-year-old, I am sure of it.” Vegas Queen is currently a $16 winning chance for the Uncle Remus with TAB bookmakers, with the Wexford Stables pair of Checkmate and Sethito heading the market at $3.80. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk Picture at the Top of the Page: Vegas Queen will take her place in Saturday's Listed Trevor & Coralie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Therese Davis (Race Images)

Rumours... NOW OFFICIAL as of Thursday morning 20 February 2025.

I don't think it is up to that level based on its performances to date. I would have liked to have seen a decent sectional fron it.

Here is Steve Hunt's Analysis of the Southland Guineas: Pivotal Ten landed on a 97 rating. The clock backed up the visual, great sustained speed. The last 200m sectionals, Pivotal Ten was very slow at the end, but more than understandable given the prior speed she showed. That doesn't detract from the performance or rating, but more so offers an indicator that she will need to be rated a little more efficiently if she's a chance to run 1500m near that rating level. If a little slow into stride like her last two and she's then revved up to find a position somewhere up near the lead, that can make it a little more difficult to switch off and relax well enough to run a strong 1500m. At the same time, I'd be snapping her up if I had a Kiwi slot yet to be filled.

Is the horse a slow learner? Whipped in its previous 3 races - not tapped. You sure like these training aids @curious.

Already has. The Southland Guineas winner is heading to Wellington!

Well it could be more accurate without a handicapper. What is wrong with the current system is it is done on a one factor formula - basically it won. Minimal adjustment given to time or weight or relative performance.

I agree.

You assume that that 25% is made up of punters that don't bet on anything else. My view is that it is the thin end of the wedge and Winston needs to harden up as there aren't that many votes in it. Give an inch to some weird minority and you end up like the basket case the UK is. Perhaps Shane Jones should be Racing Minister.

No. Nor have I.

Don't be worried about wading into any topic on BOAY. You can even openly criticise me and show me up to be a prat if you wish. Just don't stoop to name calling and spit the dummy when you may be wrong!

I agree about stakemoney. In my opinion ratings should be based on relative performance vs the horses raced against vs weight carried ( not that we have much of a weight range) vs relative times on the track that day. However the latter is a little suspect as we have such variability in NZ with regard to track variance and dubious timing/distance measured. I don't understand why NZ racing can't have GPS's in saddle cloths and a matrix of small receiving stations around the track. All relatively inexpensive technology.

Something not quite right with the time in the Guineas. They ran home the last 800m in 47. Which isn't that quick. That means the first 600m was run in 35 and a tick. So essentially Pivotal Ten ran even near 12's for the race. Why was the Southland Guineas dropped back to 1400m from 1600m this year?

I see Wynn didn't hit her with the padded bit even though the angle doesn't actually show very well where she hit.

Which means we don't really have a handicapper do we? Is that what they call AI (Artificial Intelligence)? So the OZ ratings are based on performance or are they based on guidelines? If the latter why are NZ's so different?

It's not a fair comparison. There are ample reasons to knock the concept but knocking the ratings of 3yr olds in a stuffed up system isn't one of them. As for the Timaru Cup - well you could have used the Wellington Cup as an example.

Well that's daft. It is more than Savaglee, Alabama Lass, Damask Rose and Captured by Love before they raced in Open company. NZTR have Pivotal Ten at 78!