Bright Future Tipped for 'Naughty' Blueblood

Media Release - Friday October 16

Otaki trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard have plenty to look forward to this season with a trio of promising three-year-old fillies.

Hold the Press and Key both won on debut at their home track on Thursday and their trainers think both fillies have a bright future.

Key winning on debut at Otaki on Thursday. Photo: Race Images

“They were both very good,” Benner said. “They are fillies with a nice future. They have nice pedigrees and tick a lot of boxes.”

Hold The Press began like a bullet from barrier seven in the Aquashield Roofing Maiden (1100m) and quickly found the lead for in-form hoop Danielle Johnson.

She held her advantage heading into the straight and then showed her ability when distancing her rivals to win by 3-1/2 lengths.

“Hold The Press possesses a lot of tactical pace which will hold her in good stead for her career,” Benner said.

“She is very nifty from the barrier and very quick to jump into the bridle and get into a spot, which makes the jockey’s job a lot easier.

“She was very impressive. She quickened up and it was very comfortable in the end.”

While Key was just as impressive in the Gardner Homes Maiden (1200m), winning by three lengths, Benner said she is still a work in progress with subpar racing manners.

Advertisement

The Exceed and Excel granddaughter of four-time Group One winner Princess Coup held up the start after getting loose behind the barriers.

“She was also impressive, but she has got her issues,” Benner said. “She can be a bit naughty, but it is something we are working on.

“It was good for her to get that one under her belt. We know how good she is, we have just got to get the mental side of things right.”

Benner has now turned his attention towards Hastings on Saturday where fellow three-year-old filly Bonham will be looking to book her ticket south for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton next month.

The daughter of Per Incanto won by three lengths on debut at Woodville and her trainers are hoping for a repeat performance in the NZB RTR Trainers Series 3YO 1300.

“She is a very good filly,” Benner said. “Her maiden win was very good and hopefully she can take that next step, we are sure she will.

“If she does that we can press on to bigger things, the 1000 Guineas is the obvious target.

“If she can get the job done on Saturday she has got a month to the Guineas and that will be our plan.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Ggardner Homes Mdn 1200m

Otaki Track: Slow(8) Time: 1:13.47
1
Key
- 3f Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Vanilla Princess (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: J Benner & H Wynyard Rdr: D S Johnson 54
2
3.0
Landry
- 4g El Roca (AUS) x Conferre (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C W Cole Rdr: J K Riddell 58.5
3
7.5
Liquid Les
- 4g Echoes Of Heaven (AUS) x O'Reilly's Secret (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C D Williamson Rdr: R H Schofer 55.5
4
7.8
Silent Approach
- 4m Reliable Man (GB) x Claudia Jessie (NZ) (Indian Danehill (IRE))
Tnr: G R Vile Rdr: S O'Malley 56.5
5
8.1
Roni
- 6g Nom Du Jeu (NZ) x Karaka Jubilee (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit (USA))
Tnr: Ms S Gordon Rdr: M K Hudson 55.5
6
10.1
Orlov
- 3g Sweynesse (AUS) x Diamond Cut (NZ) (Guillotine (NZ))
Tnr: D & E Haworth Rdr: J Parkes 56
7
10.9
Shoelle
- 5m Shocking (AUS) x Lonhrielle (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Ms T Keegan Rdr: B M Ansell 53.5
8
11.1
Another Secret
- 4h Ego (NZ) x Miss Anatina (AUS) (Murtajill (AUS))
Tnr: F W Mitchell Rdr: D A Hirini 58.5
9
14.4
Thatz Tigerlily
- 4m Burgundy (NZ) x Frankie That (NZ) (Alto-Vita (AUS))
Tnr: Anne Davies Rdr: S L Wynne 56.5
10
14.7
Easy Peasy
- 5m Super Easy (NZ) x Blue Skies (NZ) (Spectatorial (AUS))
Tnr: R R Manning Rdr: C M Burdan 54.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Mogumber Park hoists wet sail with Marine One
This time last year, the first foals by Mogumber Park stallion Marine One were widely regarded as some of the best types on the ground in Western Australia.
Aga Khan Homebred 3YO Colt Wins Arc in a Thriller
The Group I Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) was run overnight at Longchamp and one of the world’s great races produced a thriller with blueblood €1.85 millionsale-topping Frankel filly Minnie Hauk going down by a head to the Aga Khan homebred Seat the Stars colt Daryz.
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First G1 Winner for St Marks Basilica - 1.7million Filly Undefeated
The top lot at the 2025 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale was a blueblood St Mark’s Basilica filly from blue hen Prudenzia that sold for €1.7million to MV Magnier and she became the first Group I winner for her sire when charging home to win the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) at Longchamp.
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.
Media World Adds to Millionaire Yearling Stakes Success
Stakes racing on Saturday produced a number of stakes-winners purchased for seven figures as yearlings in Australia with $1.8million Inglis Easter sale-topper Autumn Glow leading the way in the Group I ATC Epsom after earlier success for $1million 2YO Incognito, while at Flemington $1.4million entire Media World took out the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).
Wootton Bassett G1 Double on Arc Day
The shattering loss of Wootton Bassett (GB) has been highlighted at Longchamp in France on Arc Day where the champion sire added two new Group I winners to his tally in 2YO colt Puerto Rico and the former Aussie owned 3YO colt Maranoa Charlie.