Callsign Mav Broadens his Horizon

Media Release - Saturday January 9

Trainer John Bary admitted his overwhelming feeling was one of relief after he watched his stable star Callsign Mav lump topweight of 63kg to an emphatic victory over 1400m at Awapuni on Saturday.

Callsign Mav (black cap) hits top gear as he strides to victory at Awapuni Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

Bary had been looking for a performance that would indicate whether his Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) winner could be capable of getting beyond a sprint trip and received an answer very much in the affirmative.

Rider Jonathan Riddell allowed the Atlante four-year-old to find his feet in the early rush for positions, settling in midfield off a strong tempo set up by pacemaker Malo Bik.

Taken to the outside in the run home by Riddell, Callsign Mav took a few strides to get into his work before producing a barnstorming finish under a hands and heels ride to reel in his opponents and go on to a clear-cut victory.

“Relieved is the best way to describe how I feel,” Bary said.

“I’ve said all along that he deserved the topweight, but weight can stop a train. I think today he showed that he is a very good horse.

“His work has been very good and I was happier with him as he was a little tighter than he was here before Christmas when he got beaten.

“He still had a sweat and a think about things, but nothing that would upset him.”

While the victory seemed quite comfortable, Bary advised that Riddell had been far from confident during the mid-stages of the race.

“Jonathan told me had had given up on him at the 600m,” Bary said.

Advertisement

“He thought he was no chance as he wasn’t travelling at all.

“Jonathan wasn’t sure whether it was the track or just what it was, but until he got him balanced up in the straight and hit some better footing, it was only then he thought he would win.”

Bary now has some decisions to make about Callsign Mav’s next options which could include a tilt at a Group One mile at Trentham.

“I think he showed he can get the 1600m so the Thorndon Mile (Gr.1, 1600m) is an option we will consider for him,” he said.

“If we decide against that then the BCD Group Sprint (Gr.1, 1400m) at Te Rapa in February is another option.

“We are looking to see if we can get him out to 2000m as there is a nice race for him at Awapuni in April that we would love to get him to.”

Bary was referring to the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) that will be run on April 3.

Callsign Mav has now won four of his 14 career starts and over $234,000 in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Property Brokers Hcp 1400m

Awapuni Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:22.40
1
Callsign Mav
- 4g Atlante (AUS) x Raadisi (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: J G Bary Rdr: J K Riddell 63
2
0.4
Times Ticking
- 5g Tavistock (NZ) x Laoghaire (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: A R Macgregor Rdr: A C Goindasamy 53
3
0.9
Shadows Cast
- 8g Per Incanto (USA) x Ages Past (NZ) (Slavic (USA))
Tnr: M K Oulaghan Rdr: L J Allpress 60
4
1.3
Stumpy
- 7g O'Reilly (NZ) x Stravinskys Affair (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: K Gray Rdr: D G Bradley 54
5
2.3
Hartley
- 6g Azamour (IRE) x Madam Butterfly (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: C Connors Rdr: M Mudhoo 51
6
3.6
Malo Bik
- 6g Dalghar (FR) x Rattle (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: S T Collett 54
7
4.0
Just Fabulous
- 5m O'Reilly (NZ) x Fabulist (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: R J Bergerson Rdr: W F Pinn 52
8
4.3
What A Smasher
- 5m Swiss Ace (AUS) x Fortelo (AUS) (Armidale (AUS))
Tnr: K Gray Rdr: S J Macnab 53
More Reading...
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.
Everest Runner/New G1 Horse for Hellbent as Invincible Legacy Surges
Hellbent has made a solid start to the new season with 25 winners racking up over $2million in earnings and he will have a runner in the $20million The Everest in two weeks time with Magic Time confirmed for the Inglis slot, while at Randwick last Saturday he added another G1 performer to his tally.
Aga Khan Homebred 3YO Colt - 2025 Arc de Triomphe Winner
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 Sea the Stars colt Daryz.
Sires With Winners - Monday October 6
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Two Highest Priced Yearlings in World This Year Highlight Tattersalls October Day 1
The opening day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale saw two colts realise 3,700,000 guineas and 3,600,000 guineas, both exceeding the highest price for a yearling sold anywhere in the world in 2025, and five seven-figure lots.
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.
Gimcrack Winner Bred By Cornerstone
THE "BACKSLAPPING" in the backwaters of the Barossa on Saturday afternoon, paled into insignificance when compared to the celebrations of the connections of SHIKI that won on debut!
Briasa Boost as More Youngsters Impress on HIT Sale Eve
The timing couldn’t be better for a sale page's pedigree boost, with Briasa announcing himself as one of Australia’s most exciting sprinters following his dominant victory in Saturday’s $1 million Group Two Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
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.