Mongolian Khan Rules in Group 1 NZ Derby

Mongolian Khan Rules in Group 1 NZ Derby

Strapping three-year-old colt Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor) was victorious for Mr Lang Lin's Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group after a titanic battle in the Group 1 $750,000 TV3 NZ Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday.

Mongolian Khan victorious in the Group 1 TV3 NZ Derby. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.
Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Mongolian Khan has been unbeatable in six of his seven starts. His last start saw him win the Group 2 Avondale Guineas at Ellerslie two weeks earlier over 2100m. Other accomplishments include a second Group 2 win in the Waikato Guineas and the Listed 3YO Salver in December.

“It was a big relief as well as a big thrill,” commented Forsman. “There was a lot of pressure on for such an important result for not only us as a stable but for the racing industry in general.

“He is obviously a very good horse as he has only ever been beaten once."

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Bred: Grenville Stud Offered: Regal Farm Purchased: China Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2013 Ready to Run Sale - $220,000

Sealing Another Stakes Success

Precocious three-year-old filly First Seal (Fastnet Rock) returned to the winners circle with an impressive victory in the Group 2 A$175,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farmon Saturday.

First Seal triumphant in the Group 2 Surround Stakes.
Recording four wins and three seconds from eight starts, this was First Seal’s third stakes victory for trainer John Thompson. Her highest accomplishment to date is her triumph in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at 1600m which was followed by a second in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at 2000m.

“It was an outstanding win,” said John Thompson. “She was a dominant filly and she had them beat a long way from home.

“She was underdone last start, but I thought she would probably win. She found a bit of trouble and the track didn’t help her that day."

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Bred: Raffles Dancers (NZ) Pty Ltd Offered: Curraghmore Stud Purchased: Bart Cummings at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2013 Premier Sale - $700,000

Eagle Soaring to New Heights

A spectacular turn of foot propelled promising three-year-old Alpine Eagle (High Chaparral) to victory in the Group 2 A$200,000 Race-Tech Australia Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m) on Saturday at Caulfield.

Alpine Eagle wins the Group 2 Race-Tech Australia Caulfield Autumn Classic.
From the stable of Tony McEvoy, Alpine Eagle has yet to finish a race unplaced. His five starts have seen him win four races and placed third in the other. It was the High Chaparral colt’s first step up to a middle distance race and has now added black-type to his pedigree.

“He [Alpine Eagle] is really exciting,” commented McEvoy. “He looked in a lot of trouble wobbling around here and he did it a little bit a Morphetville last time.

“He’s still coming and for him to get up and win was incredible.”

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Bred: Standard 2080 Ltd Offered: Cambridge Stud Purchased: McEvoy Mitchell Racing at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2013 Premier Sale - $240,000

An outstanding performance by seasoned sprinter Durham Town (NZ) (Falkirk) saw him triumph in the Group 3 $100,000 Darley Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Durham Town (NZ) won the Group 3 Darley Plate. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.
Durham Town has now won the Group 3 Darley Plate twice, first winning the race as a four-year-old in 2012 with James McDonald onboard. Trained by Donna and Dean Logan, the seven-year-old has been close up this season, finishing third in three Group races, including the Group 1 Sistema Railway Stakes.

He ran in the Darley Plate a further two times again as a five-year-old finishing second and last year where he finished third. Durham Town has four stakes victories to his name now with his highest victory the Group 2 Concorde Handicap.

“Durham Town is a grand old war horse who is still peaking at seven-years-old,” commented Donna Logan. “He loves Ellerslie and never stops trying."

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Bred: Mrs D S & P L Seebeck Offered: Nerobella Lodge Purchased: Donna Logan at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Festival Sale - $43,000

Passing Fires His Best Shot

Three-year-old Passing Shot (NZ) (Swiss Ace) achieved his first stakes victory in the Group 3 $70,000 BMW Mr Tiz Trophy (1200m) on Saturday at Ellerslie.

Passing Shot (NZ) wins the Group 3 BMW Mr Tiz Trophy. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.
Now with three consecutive wins from his 14 starts, Passing Shot's winning streak has continued. Trained by Stephen McKee, he has performed in a number of stakes races, including a second placing in the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie.

“Since he’s been brought back to sprint trips he’s found his way,” commented McKee. “Red Striker was always going to be the horse to beat and it was a good effort to hold her off.

“We might look at taking him back up to 1400 metres in the Wellington Guineas, but we’ll see how he pulls up after this first.”

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Bred: Gerry Harvey Offered: Westbury Stud Purchased: Go Racing at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2013 Select Sale - $137,200

Points Shared in Latest Fillies Series Race

A dead heat between leading New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year contenderPlatinum Witness (California Dane) and first-time runner in the Series Savaria (NZ) (Savabeel) has seen the points shared after the Group 3 $70,000 The Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings on Saturday.

Platinum Witness (inside) & Savaria (NZ) winners of the Group 3 The Little Avondale Lowland Stakes. Photo courtesy of Race Images Palmerston North.
The dead heat win places Platinum Witness back in the lead for the Series with 22.5 points, and Savaria earned her first points, with both fillies collecting 4.5 points. Saavoya(NZ) (Savabeel) drops back to second position and Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) remains in third spot.

Platinum Witness now totals four wins, all at stakes level, from her 13 starts. Her last start saw her step up to staying distance for the first time where she ran fourth for trainer Lisa Latta in the Group 2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic.

“It was a great performance,” commented Latta. “She probably just got left in front a touch too soon. She sprinted really well and the other horse just had to sit on her. She went a great race and pulled up well."

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Platinum Witness - Bred: Monovale Farm Offered: Monovale Farm Purchased: Lisa Latta at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2013 Select Sale - $55,000

Savaria - Bred: Mrs JM & TM Henderson Offered: Bluegables Farm Purchased: DP & Mrs KC Fleming at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2013 Premier Sale - $110,000

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