Makfi Filly Wins Canterbury Belle Stakes

Media Release - Saturday October 3

Destined to join the stable of Chris Waller, local filly Matchmaker gave her rivals a start and a beating when she took out Saturday’s Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.

Matchmaker proves too strong - Photo Credit: Race Images South

The Nick Wigley and Kayla Milnes-trained three-year-old had been touted as a topliner in the making after she blitzed her rivals over 1000m on debut at Riccarton back in July.

That win saw Indian-born Sydneysider Manoj Wanzare, a fund manager who has enjoyed recent success as a part-owner of Group One star Verry Elleegant and last weekend's Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m) winner Subpoenaed, buy a fifty percent stake in the filly from her breeder/owners Gus and Bianca Wigley.

Conditions of the deal have allowed her trainers to keep her in their stable until after next month's Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton when she will transfer to Sydney mentor Chris Waller.

The Group One goal looks to be right on schedule after Matchmaker downed several of her likely 1000 Guineas rivals with an eye-catching performance.

Rider Tina Comignaghi settled the daughter of Makfi beyond midfield before angling her wide in the home straight to get a clear run at the leaders. Matchmaker burst to the lead at the 150m and dashed away from Matamata filly Laced With Gold who chased her hard but was still more than a length in arrears at the line.

Wigley admitted he had been a little worried before the race about the firm track but once he saw his charge stretch out in the straight those thoughts were quickly dispelled.

“She won her first race on a slow track so I was a wee bit concerned about how firm it was today,” Wigley said.

“She looked a little scratchy early on but once she got into her rhythm she seemed to be just fine.

Advertisement

“She settled beautifully and when Tina angled her into the clear she burst to them pretty quickly.

“It has been a dream of both Gus and I to win this race and now we’ve done it the feeling is just indescribable.”

Wigley was buoyed by comments he received from Comignaghi after the race as he looks forward to the 1000 Guineas on November 14.

“Tina came back in and was thrilled with how the filly had gone,” he said.

“One of the first things she said to me was she felt the horse was already looking for more ground which is nice to hear when you are trying to get her out to a mile.

“We’re going to give her one more run which could be either at Ashburton over 1400m or one here and then she will go the Guineas after that.”

Bred by Gus Wigley and his wife Bianca under the family’s Inglewood Stud banner, Matchmaker is from an extended family that includes multiple stakes winner Dynamic Love.

TAB Bookmakers reacted to the victory by moving Matchmaker into second favourite at $8 in their 1000 Guineas market behind Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) winner Miss Aotearoa at $5.50. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Canterbury Belle LR 1200m

Riccarton Park Track: Good(3) Time: 1:07.90
1
Matchmaker
- 3f Makfi (GB) x Love Somebody (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: N Wigley & K Milnes Rdr: A Comignaghi 56.5
2
1.3
Laced With Gold
- 3f Showcasing (GB) x Malta Badia (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: S Autridge & K Shailer Rdr: C J Grylls 56.5
3
2.3
Stella Creek
- 3f Per Incanto (USA) x Cherry Creek (AUS) (Monashee Mountain (USA))
Tnr: Ms T Rae Rdr: Ms K Williams 56.5
4
3.1
Cornflower Blue
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Tiffany Yellow (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: S L Wynne 56.5
5
3.2
Miss Tycoon Rose
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Splat (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: K Chowdhoory 56.5
6
4.9
The Gift
- 3f Power (GB) x Trust (NZ) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: R C Dennis Rdr: K Mudhoo 56.5
7
5.0
Walkthisswey
- 3f Sweynesse (AUS) x Endoftheinnocence (NZ) (Swiss Ace (AUS))
Tnr: P D Harris Rdr: S J Macnab 56.5
8
5.8
Lovebug
- 3f Iffraaj (GB) x L'amour (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: J J Fawcett 56.5
9
7.1
Showemhowitsdone
- 3f Showcasing (GB) x Jaffari (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: S Kennedy & A Furlong Rdr: B M Murray 56.5
10
7.7
She's Recommended
- 3f Highly Recommended (AUS) x Volonte (NZ) (My Halo (ARG))
Tnr: L R Beckett Rdr: T R Moseley 56.5
11
7.9
Eva James
- 3f Super Easy (NZ) x Imperial Miss (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: K Rae & K Williams-Tuhoro Rdr: L Callaway 56.5
12
12.8
Adannaya
- 3f Niagara (AUS) x Elusive Tracy (NZ) (Elusive City (USA))
Tnr: L M Robinson Rdr: C A Campbell 56.5
13
14.9
Amosia
- 3f Squamosa (AUS) x Banditti (AUS) (Last Tycoon (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: K Asano 56.5
14
39.0
Lightning Ridge
- 3f Highly Recommended (AUS) x Sefidi (NZ) (Bigstone (IRE))
Tnr: P D Harris Rdr: C R Barnes 56.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday September 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
Kiwi Stayer Chasing Melbourne Cup Golden Ticket
Wolfgang, who races as Mister Wolfgang in Australia, will get his first opportunity to earn a golden ticket into the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he heads to Flemington on Saturday.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.