Nicks That Click - Kiwi Genetic Magic

Tara Madgwick - Sunday October 18

This nick involving two champion New Zealand sires produced a new stakes-winner on Saturday in Albarado and another on Sunday in Cornflower Blue.

Danielle Johnson drives Cornflower Blue to victory at Ashburton Photo Credit: Race Images South

Matamata filly Cornflower Blue reinvigorated her challenge for next months Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) with a determined win at Ashburton on Sunday.

The Jamie Richards-trained three-year-old had her halo dented slightly when battling home for fourth in the Gr.3 Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton at her last start but made no mistake today when she produced a determined home straight burst to down fellow northern raider Embers in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m).

Embers had tried to lead throughout and looked to be going well rounding the home bend however rider Danielle Johnson had Cornflower Blue winding up strongly and got the upperhand short of the line after a stirring home straight battle.

Bred and raced by Waikato Stud, Cornflower Blue is by champion sire Savabeel and is out of O’Reilly mare Tiffany Yellow. She comes from an extended family that includes Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) winner Mosse and Group One winners Terravista, Tiger Tees and Il Quello Veloce.

The Savabeel and O’Reilly cross also came to fore on Saturday when Albarado won the Gr.3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) and the cross currently produces 13 percent stakes winners to runners.

“I watched the race with the trainer and I’m absolutely rapt,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick said.

“Jamie and the team, his father Paul, have done an incredible job with her after she felt the ground in the Canterbury Belle Stakes.

“We’re looking forward to her contesting the 1000 Guineas, if she goes the right way, but we’d like to see a touch more give in the ground if possible.”

Chittick earmarked Cornflower Blue as a top filly in their 2019 National Yearling sale draft, but she broke a wither leading up to the sale and had to be withdrawn. Furthermore, after finishing second on debut to subsequent dual stakes winner Need I Say More, she fractured a bone in her leg.

“I’ve got to say, the expert veterinary care of Ronan (Costello) at Te Akau, and our vet Chris (Phillips), who diagnosed what was an unusual sort of fracture, and all the love and attention she got from the staff going through her rehab has given us the opportunity to get her back to the track,” he said.

Advertisement

Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis CNZM was also delighted with the win.

“That was Savabeel’s 104th stakes winner,” he said.

“He’s been our Champion Stallion for six years in a row and it’s just incredible how much success we’ve had with his progeny in the last five or six years.

“Recently, I can think of Probabeel, Savy Yong Blonk, Cool Aza Beel, Prise De Fer, Embellish, Hall of Fame, Sword of Osman, Splurge, Royal Success, Shillelagh, Grazia, and others, all really good horses.

“It’s so good to be entrusted with a beautiful filly like this from the Breeder of the Year (Waikato Stud) and to be able to win a Group Three.”

Cornflower Blue now sits on the third line of betting for the 1000 Guineas at an $8 quote behind Tinker Mcphee ($5) and impressive Hastings winner Bonham ($6).

She is the 18th stakes-winner for Savabeel bred from a daughter of champion sire O’Reilly, the nick running at nearly 14% stakes-winners to runners and 74% winners to runners..

The race was marred by the fall of two runners on the point of the home turn with both Zoltan and Showemhowitsdone crashing heavily to the turf, although both horses were up quickly and came through relatively unscathed.

Showemhowitsdone’s rider Brett Murray was unhurt however Jason Laking, who was aboard Zoltan, suffered a suspected broken collarbone and concussion. – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for Savabeel

Savabeel in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Barneswood Farm Stakes 3yo Gr3 1400m

Ashburton Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:23.48
1
Cornflower Blue
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Tiffany Yellow (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: D S Johnson 54.5
2
0.4
Embers
- 3f Darci Brahma (NZ) x Smoulder (NZ) (Traditionally (USA))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: K Asano 54.5
3
2.4
Matchmaker
- 3f Makfi (GB) x Love Somebody (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: N Wigley & K Milnes Rdr: A Comignaghi 54.5
4
2.5
Watchmaker
- 3g Pins (AUS) x Tick Tock (NZ) (Val D'Arno (USA))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: K Chowdhoory 56.5
5
4.0
Laced With Gold
- 3f Showcasing (GB) x Malta Badia (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: S Autridge & K Shailer Rdr: C J Grylls 54.5
6
10.9
Eva James
- 3f Super Easy (NZ) x Imperial Miss (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: K Rae & K Williams-Tuhoro Rdr: T D Thornton 54.5
7
12.7
Walkthisswey
- 3f Sweynesse (AUS) x Endoftheinnocence (NZ) (Swiss Ace (AUS))
Tnr: P D Harris Rdr: C R Barnes 54.5
8
15.8
Florentia
- 3f Vespa (NZ) x Florence Hilton (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn (AUS))
Tnr: S Autridge & K Shailer Rdr: Ms K Williams 54.5
More Reading...
Sword of State 2YO Ready for Debut
A pair of promising youngsters are set to make their debut for Cambridge trainer Chad Ormsby at Avondale on Wednesday, but track conditions may scupper plans for one of them.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 7
Here is the full list of 25 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Metro Winner Adds to Yes Yes Yes Spring Surge
October is shaping as a great month for Gooree Stud’s new addition Yes Yes Yes with the 2019 Everest hero reeling off four winners in the past week including Maybe Moet, who saluted at Randwick on Wednesday.
Les Young Scholarship sets Miriam on track for industry leadership
Miriam Drinnan’s vision for a big, bold career in the Thoroughbred industry has just been turbo-charged thanks to the Les Young Scholarship, an award supported by the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program.
G1 King Charles Next for Pier
Kiwi Group One winner Pier will not feature in this year’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), but he will still have the opportunity to run for a A$5 million stake back in Sydney.
Wrote SW on Comeback Trail
Robbie Patterson had high Classic hopes for Read About It last season before his rising young star’s progress was halted by illness.
MM Gold Coast Horses In Training Sale Links
Tuesday saw the final breeze ups at the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale which starts on Thursday so here’s our links to useful data including the pinhook report, with most lots having been sold previously.
All the Way Anders Winner for Myracehorse
The Myracehorse colours struck again at Doomben on Wednesday carried by progressive Anders filly Diversity, who broke her maiden in good style.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 8
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Yulong Purchase into Enriched - Inglis October (Early) Sale
Three individual shares in the G2-winning entire Enriched sold for a combined $440,000 in a highly successful Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale today.