New G3 Winner for Power

Media Release - Saturday January 30

Matamata visitor Force Of Will carried on her winning way when she proved too strong for her rivals in the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.

Lightly raced filly Force of Will takes out the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham  Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly travelled south to Trentham off the back of consecutive wins at Tauranga, including an eye-catching performance against the older horses over 1400m at her last start.

Stepped up to the mile against her own age and sex this time, the Power filly travelled sweetly in midfield for rider Craig Grylls before being angled into the centre of the track to make her run.

Grylls unleashed her at the 200m and she drove clear to score from a brave Victorem who fought hard after leading into the home straight, with Passione close up in third.

Bred and raced by Sir Owen Glenn under his Go Bloodstock Australia banner, Force of Will has now won three of her four starts, with O’Sullivan contemplating how far she might go in this campaign.

“I’m thrilled for Sir Owen as I think he has got himself a very promising filly,” O’Sullivan said.

“It is a great result as the black type she picks up from the win cements her value when Sir Owen retires her to his broodmare band.

“We were stepping into the unknown a little with her as we weren’t sure she could get the trip, especially on a track where it is a tough mile.

“Her last two runs suggested she was looking for more ground and after what we’ve seen today, she might be able to get further still.”

O’Sullivan was also delighted with the ride by Grylls who was bringing up the middle leg of a winning treble after winning aboard On Show and Ruby Rocks during the day.

Advertisement

“Kozzi Asano had ridden her in her two previous wins, but given it was a stakes race, we just opted for a little more experience today,” O’Sullivan said.

“We have had a lot of luck with Craig and he produced another no panic ride for us.”

O’Sullivan and Scott were both absent from the track after spending nine energy sapping days travelling back and forth from the National Yearling Sale at Karaka.

“Both Scotty and I were pretty weary after having spent so much time up at Karaka,” he said.

“We sent her down with our stable employee Ellen Osbourne, who does a great job for us and she has done that again today.

“I’ve actually got the place to myself at home this afternoon with just the dog for company, so it was just the two of us cheering her on.

“When she won, the dog gave me a high five and we celebrated in style.”

The 15th stakes-winner for Power, who now stands in Queensland, Force Of Will is the third foal of Savabeel mare Sade and comes from an extended family that stretches back to Gr.1 Melbourne Cup winner (3200m) Brew, the son of multiple Group One winner Horlicks. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Desert Gold Stakes Gr3 1600m

Trentham Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:37.84
1
Force Of Will
- 3f Power (GB) x Sade (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: C J Grylls 56.5
2
1.3
Victorem
- 3f Shooting To Win (AUS) x Gymnast (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Ms A Herbert Rdr: L J Allpress 56.5
3
1.7
Passione
- 3f Proisir (AUS) x Pristino (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: L G Innes 56.5
4
1.8
Sweet Anna
- 3f Tavistock (NZ) x Sara Ann (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: S T Collett 56.5
5
2.2
El Roseay
- 3f El Roca (AUS) x Margravine (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Ms J K Mahoney Rdr: J Parkes 56.5
6
2.7
Charms Star
- 3f Per Incanto (USA) x Anniesstar (NZ) (Zed (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: S R Weatherley 56.5
7
3.2
Samina Bibi
- 3f Reliable Man (GB) x Zuzela (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: J K Riddell 56.5
8
3.3
Fleetwood Maca
- 3f Rock 'n' Pop (AUS) x Macavelli Miss (AUS) (Vettori (IRE))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: M J Mc Nab 56.5
9
4.8
Love For All
- 3f Love Conquers All (AUS) x Shadows (AUS) (Dane Shadow (AUS))
Tnr: B E Newman Rdr: R T Elliot 56.5
10
5.0
Key
- 3f Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Vanilla Princess (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: J Benner & H Wynyard Rdr: D S Johnson 56.5
11
5.1
Arancia
- 3f Sweet Orange (USA) x La Manzanilla (NZ) (Duelled (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: C W Johnson 56.5
12
6.4
Kaluanui
- 3f Sacred Falls (NZ) x Hemem (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: J G Bary Rdr: L T Hemi 56.5
13
8.4
Da Vinci Girl
- 3f Zacinto (GB) x Our Mona Lisa (AUS) (Desert Prince (IRE))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: K Asano 56.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Friday July 4
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Marble Nine Brings Up Second Stakes Winner For Aquis’ Kobayashi
The withdrawal of the top weight in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed VRC Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington saw the field down to just six, with Marble Nine continuing his outstanding recent form to secure his first black type victory.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 2
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sword Poised to Strike
When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.
Invincible 2YO Colt wins for Bennett Racing
The $150,000 VRC Next Gen Sprinters Series Final (1200m) for two year-olds at Flemington on Saturday drew a competitive field of progressive juveniles and the colt that stood out on type in the yard was the one that got the cash with I Am Invincible colt Jimmy Recard proving too good for race favourite Bacash.
Kiwi Bred Good Banter Finds Winning Form
Four-year-old mare Good Banter was back in the winner’s circle when narrowly prevailing in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Buccleuch - First Stakes-Winner for Peltzer
The $175,000 Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday was won back in 2020 by Cherry Tortoni, who went to on to become a multiple Group winner of nearly $1million and the same colours were carried by this year’s winner Buccleuch.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Synthetic track meetings at Ballarat can throw up some misleading form, but a debut winner from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable that started in the red and won by nine lengths is probably worth a closer look.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.