Smart Winner for Curraghmore

Media Release - Sunday May 23

Curraghmore Stud principal Gordon Cunningham continued his good form with Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard’s Ballymore Stables when Tevere broke her maiden status at just her second start when storming clear to win over 1200m at Te Rapa.

Tevere (centre) breaks her maiden status with a comprehensive victory at Te Rapa Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

“Tevere is the third horse I’ve had in training with Ballymore,” Cunningham said.

“The first was Chicharita who won the Royal Stakes (Gr.2, 2000m) and she finished fourth in the New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m).

“The second was Tofane, who we sold after she trialled and last year she won the All Aged Stakes (Gr.1, 1400m).”

Tevere, who had featured prominently at four trial outings before finishing a solid fourth on debut at Avondale last month, put that raceday experience to good use on Saturday, as she overcame a wide draw to score handsomely in the hands of Michael McNab.

Settling third last in a strung-out field, Tevere stood the leader 12 lengths passing the 600m, but quickly improved her position as McNab set her alight approaching the home straight. Tevere stormed down centre track to win easing up by one and three-quarter lengths from pacemaker Corretto.

“They were going quickly and she showed a sharp turn-of-foot to win easily,” McNab said.

Cunningham, who retained the filly after withdrawing her from the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, was fulsome in his praise for the work done by co-trainer Pam Gerard with the daughter of Contributer.

“Pam Gerard has done some terrific work developing this filly,” Cunningham said.

“She’s been very patient and she was impressive on Saturday and looks exciting.”

Advertisement

Gerard had been happy with Tevere since her debut effort and felt she was ready for a winning turn.

“She’d worked well through the week and had a senior rider aboard,” she said.

“She was jumping around and certainly ready to do something.

“She’d eaten well and looked good, although starting to get a bit longer in the coat coming into winter.

 “I felt she may not mind the slow track, but Michael said while handling it she would probably appreciate it better.

“I thought she may have been good enough to overcome the barrier and was pleased to see her race and win so well.

“I’m thrilled for Gordon and his staff at Curraghmore. They all put so much into it and we’re just glad to get these fillies going and be a part of their success.”

Tevere is the fifth foal from Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) winning mare Italian Princess, all bred by Cunningham, and became her fourth individual winner.

Italian Princess is a half-sister to dual stakes winner Defibrillate, who now races out of the Patrick Payne stable in Melbourne after being prepared for his early racing in New Zealand by Matamata trainer Graham Richardson, who retains a share in the six-year-old son of Shocking and also prepared Italian Princess throughout her racing career. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Group 1 Queensland Oaks For So You Think's You Wahng
With form around some of the best 3yo staying fillies in the country, the Kris Lees trained You Wahng was too strong, winning the $700,000 Group 1 BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.
Capitalist Colt Records Back To Back Wins
Off the back of an explosive victory last time out at Hawkesbury when breaking his maiden by just shy of four lengths, Nathan Doyle’s Hidden Motive (Capitalist) justifiably jumped the short-priced favourite in the $160,000 Precise Air Handicap (1100m) at Randwick.
First Group Victory For $3.5m Earner Front Page
Having raced at Flemington, Rosehill and Ascot at his last three starts, the Matthew Dale trained Front Page travelled to his fourth different state in as many starts, winning the $300,000 G2 BRC Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm.
Kicked out of Australia - Jan Brueghel Wins G1 Coronation
The horse kicked out of Australia last spring as not having suitable scans to race in the Melbourne Cup, Jan Brueghel showed just what we missed out on seeing when taking out the Group I Betfred Coronation Cup (1m4f) at Epsom overnight.
First Stakes Success For Zoustar’s Zaszou
Becoming the second stakes winner of the meeting for Widden Stud’s Zoustar, the Philip Stokes trained Zaszou captured the $160,000 Listed BRC Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) in a photo finish.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New Stakes-Winner for Snitzel – Stradbroke Possible
The Listed $160,000 BRC Spear Chief Quality (1500m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday delivered a new stakes-winner for champion sire Snitzel with progressive four year-old gelding Transatlantic taking victory as a well backed favourite.
Third Group 1 Victory For Zoustar’s Sensational Joliestar
Cambridge Stud's outstanding Zoustar mare Joliestar was simply sensational, charging late to win the $1m BRC Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm, her third Group 1 victory.
Third Generation Epsom Derby Hero for Coolmore
The Group I Epsom Derby (1m4f) was the big highlight overnight in the UK and the scratching of Godolphin owned favourite Ruling Court due to track condition meant it was an open affair with the second string horse from Ballydoyle in Lambourn coming up trumps and also bringing joy for the Aussie offshoot of his family.
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.