Baby Brother for Verry Elleegant

Media Release - Monday August 30

COVID-19 lockdown makes for testing times at present, but the weekend news from Sydney for two Auckland near-neighbours has given them something to celebrate.

Octogenarians Don Goodwin and David Paykel live within walking distance of each other in the North Shore suburb of Takapuna.

In the past three years Goodwin has been having the time of his life as the breeder and co-owner of outstanding racemare Verry Elleegant, while over a much longer period Paykel has enjoyed numerous successes with horses carrying his canary and pink colours.

On Saturday Verry Elleegant was the headline act when various awards for the 2020-21 season were announced by the New South Wales Racehorse Owners’ Association in conjunction with Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club.

On top of her New Zealand Bloodstock Champion Middle Distance and Gow-Gates Champion Stayer titles, the Zed six-year-old was crowned NSW Horse of the Year in recognition of the five Group One wins she collected last season.

Without wanting to sound blasé, Goodwin admits that the accolades generated by his wonderful mare in a career of 13 wins – nine of them at Group One – and stakes of more than $9 million, have become somewhat par de course.

It’s quite the opposite, however, for Paykel in the case of his current leading light So Wicked, a stablemate of Verry Elleegant in expat trainer Chris Waller’s star-studded line-up. With five wins in Sydney during 2020-21, the daughter of Street Cry and Group-winning Zabeel mare So Pristine took the award as the most prolific performer on Australian Turf Club tracks.

  So Wicked winning at Randwick in July Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au

“I was absolutely gobsmacked to be told,” her owner-breeder admitted.

“I didn’t even know they had an award of that nature, but we’re thrilled that our mare has won it.”

So Wicked, whose granddam Pristine Kristine was sourced from the United States by Paykel’s bloodstock adviser Michael Otto, began her career with Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, for whom she won twice before being transferred early last year to Waller.

“The idea always was to send her across at some stage with more opportunities to pick up some black-type and get the pedigree boosted,” said Paykel, the son and nephew respectively of Fisher & Paykel whiteware manufacturing founders Maurice Paykel and Sir Woolf Fisher.

Advertisement

“She has yet to do that but she’s still done well. Chris plans to have her back in November for one more preparation before she goes to stud.”

The line founded in this part of the world by the Spinning World mare Pristine Kristine has had a significant boost with the recent Gr. 2 ATC Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) win by Swift Witness.

Other contributors include 2017-18 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Dijon Blue and her half-sister Passione, who finished third in the Gr. 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) last season, while their four-win sibling Super Pursuit has feature racing on his new season agenda.

Meanwhile, as well as looking forward to another lucrative spring campaign for Verry Elleegant, Don Goodwin has received further welcome news with the birth overnight at Grangewilliam Stud of a brother to the mighty mare.

Opulence with her hours-old colt foal by Zed, a brother to champion mare Verry Elleegant and recent Winter Cup placegetter Verry Flash.

The leggy bay colt is the first live foal produced by the Danroad mare Opulence since the loss of her 2019 colt foal, which also meant she could not be served that year.

“I had been hoping for a filly to carry on the line with,” Goodwin said. “But after what happened last time I’m still happy to get a healthy colt.

“Mark (Corcoran, Grangewilliam Stud principal) tells me it was a straightforward foaling and mother and son are both well. From the photograph he sent me I can see he’s a good leggy foal, so all in all it’s a great result.”

Opulence will return to Zed, who Corcoran anticipates will cover a book of 70-80 mares this spring off the back of a season that besides Verry Elleegant also included Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed NZ St Leger (2600m) winner Waisake, Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) winner Irish Flame and Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) winner Robusto.

After her first-up second to Mo’unga in last week’s Gr. 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, Verry Elleegant is scheduled to start next in the Gr. 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 18 ahead of Melbourne features.

Subsequent to Victorian jockey Mark Zahra being suspended for three months over his involvement in last week’s illegal Mornington gathering, Damian Lane has been engaged for a carnival campaign targeting the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) and possibly the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Farnan Draws Level with Ole Kirk on 13 Winners
There’s a good battle going to decide the leading first season sire by Australian winners and with just seven days of the season to run Farnan is laying down the gauntlet to the long time division leader Ole Kirk.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
Exciting Farnan Colt Wins for Mulberry Racing
A standout in the mounting yard on type at Randwick on Saturday, Farnan colt Nashville Jack has also been an eye-catcher at the recent trials in Sydney and he delivered on potential when resuming from a spell with a stylish win.
New Zealand Makes Presence Felt in Hong Kong’s 2024-25 Season
From a freakish sprinter with a (NZ) suffix to an exciting group of up-and-comers sourced from the Karaka sale ring, New Zealand’s influence was strongly felt on Hong Kong racetracks during the 2024-25 season.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Amelia’s Jewel Family Produces Wootton Bassett 2YO SW
Wootton Bassett (GB) added yet another new two year old stakes-winner to his tally overnight in Ireland with the Group III Silver Flash Stakes (7 ½ f) at Leopardstown going to a filly that is closely related to Aussie Group I winner Amelia’s Jewel.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.