Darci Brahma Mare Hinepara upsets in Avondale Cup

Media Release - Saturday February 19

Ashvin Goindasamy loves upsetting in big races at Ellerslie and he did it again on Saturday when guiding Levin visitor Hinepara to victory in the Gr.2 Wallen Concreting Avondale Cup (2400m).

Ashvin Goindasamy celebrates another big race win at Ellerslie as he guides Hinepara to victory in the Gr.2 Wallen Concreting Avondale Cup (2400m) Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

Goindasamy had registered his biggest career win aboard Tiptronic in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at the venue on Boxing Day and added a Group Two victory to his resume’ on the Josh Shaw-trained Darci Brahma mare.

Betting in the race was dominated by Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) contenders Concert Hall ($3.40) and Our Hail Mary ($3.60), with Hinepara starting at outside odds ($16).

Just as Concert Hall looked likely to reward her supporters as she drove to the front with 250m to run, the effects of her 59kgs topweight began to tell as Goindasamy got the best from Hinepara, who closed strongly from beyond midfield to burst to the lead in the final few bounds and register a half a length victory.

“I just love Ellerslie and winning big races here,” Goindasamy said.

“I rode her last week at Awapuni to get a feel for her and the 1600m was a touch too short for her.

“Today she got a nice track in the race and she was just travelling on the corner and needing a way out.

“When we got clear I thought Concert Hall might be home, but we came and got her on the post.

“The weight may have been the difference as we only had 52kgs, but she stretched out really well and got up on the line.”

Shaw, who prepares a small team of twelve from his Levin base, is in his fifth season as a trainer since returning to the Central Districts following time working in several stables in the Waikato region.

The excitement of the victory saw him having trouble keeping up with all the congratulatory messages he was receiving after the race.

Advertisement

“I’ve had to put my phone on charge as the battery is pretty much flat from the volume of calls I’ve had,” he said.

“That was just amazing and really satisfying, as it is the race we set her for.

“She was supposed to come up for the City Of Auckland Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) on New Year’s day but my sister had a wedding that day she wanted me at, so that put paid to that plan.

“We decided to forgo the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) as it is a real tough two miles at Trentham and come here for this race instead and we’ve done it.”

Shaw admitted he had all but given up on the mare’s chances when he saw her tucked back on the rail beyond midfield when the pace increased sharply at the 800m.

“I actually walked away at the 800m as she was smothered away three back and I thought we didn’t have a prayer at getting a crack at them,” he said.

“Next thing I know she is in the clear and charging home, so it was a super ride by Ashvin.

“It was a massive effort and I did say if we ran first or second we would be back for the Auckland Cup, so I guess that is what we will be doing.”

Bred by well-known Central Districts identity Christopher Grace, Hinepara is out of the Generous mare Harinui and is a half sister to Group Three placed mare Waikaha and promising intermediate stayer Rangitata.

Connections will now have to make a decision on whether to pay the $10,000 late nomination fee on March 8 to enable Hinepara to make her way into the Auckland Cup, which will be run at Ellerslie on March 12. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Avondale Cup Gr2 2400m

Ellerslie Track: Dead(5) Time: 2:31.97
1
Hinepara
- 7m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Harinui (NZ) (Generous (IRE))
Tnr: Joshua Shaw Rdr: A C Goindasamy 52
2
0.5
Concert Hall
- 7m Savabeel (AUS) x Classic Legacy (NZ) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: R T Elliot 59
3
2.5
Mohaka
- 6m Nadeem (AUS) x Diplomacy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: G Lowry & G Cullen Rdr: K R Hercock 52
4
2.6
He No Opilio
- 7g Zed (NZ) x Pentavale (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: Chris Rauhihi Rdr: M Mudhoo 52
5
3.6
Hit The Road Jack
- 5g Jakkalberry (IRE) x Ististar (NZ) (Istidaad (USA))
Tnr: Craig & Shaun Phelan Rdr: B E Grylls 52
6
4.4
Enright
- 4g Power (GB) x Katy O'Beel (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: R S Manning Rdr: T D Thornton 52
7
5.1
Roger That
- 9g Shinko King (IRE) x Heather Lyn (NZ) (Yamanin Vital (NZ))
Tnr: A D Fuller Rdr: L H Satherley 54
8
5.6
Te Akau Caliburn
- 7g Camelot (GB) x Enchanted Evening (IRE) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: K Asano 52
9
6.7
Ember Attack
- 4g Jimmy Choux (NZ) x Dancing Embers (NZ) (Istidaad (USA))
Tnr: P P Mirabelli Rdr: J Kamaruddin 52
10
6.8
Beam Me Up Scotty
- 8g Cape Blanco (IRE) x Morgalicious (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: L A Burton Rdr: D J Danis 52
11
7.3
Our Hail Mary
- 6m Ocean Park (NZ) x Repenting (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: M Cameron 54
12
10.6
The Bounder
- 6g Swiss Ace (AUS) x Promissory (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: P W Lock Rdr: L T Hemi 52
13
11.2
Iffraajinator
- 7g Iffraaj (GB) x So You (NZ) (Grosvenor (NZ))
Tnr: Ms K Fursdon Rdr: M Hashizume 52
14
18.8
Iskander
- 8g Gorky Park (NZ) x Te Awa Rose (NZ) (Prized (USA))
Tnr: J K Ruddell Rdr: Y Kumagai 52
More Reading...
The Novelist Returns to Form
The very first stakes-winner for his sire Written By when winning the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes in December 2022, The Novelist made light of the heavy 10 track at Rosehill on Saturday to claim another victory.
Highland Blaze Wins $250,000 Grand National Hurdle
Jumps racing was the highlight at Sandown Lakeside on Sunday with the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) the highlight and the $100,000 Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) offering a great start to the day.
Impressive New Winner at Goodwood for St Mark’s Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had a number of high profile yearlings sold at the European sales last year and one of them was a filly from Angelic Light that made 600,000 guineas at Tattersalls October Book 2.
Victorian Breeders Celebrate Annual Awards Night
The 2025 Victorian Breeding Awards has once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
King of Roseau Wins G3 Aurie’s Star
Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 2
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Alma Vale Thoroughbreds Welcome First foal for Ozzmosis
The next chapter for Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis has officially begun with the arrival of his first foal. A bay colt out of the stakes-placed mare Cool Change (NZ) was born last night at Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, marking a significant milestone for the exciting son of Zoustar.
Glorious Goodwood Day 3 – Flag Start Can’t Stop Wootton Bassett
The Group I Nassau Stakes (1m2f) for fillies and mares was the highlight on the third day of Glorious Goodwood and very nearly didn’t happen at all given the ‘biblical’ rain and a flag start for the five runners that braved the treacherous conditions.
Bred to Win Returns on Monday night
Caroline Searcy’s Bred To Win returns this Monday night profiling new and proven stallions heading into the Spring of 2025 and promoting the thoroughbred breeding industry in Australia and around the world.
Inglis Digital Bargain Buys Deliver Kosciuszko Dreamers
Sunshine Law was not the only Inglis Digital success story to come out of the Rosehill meeting on Saturday with two contenders for this year’s $2million Kosciuszko also giving connections cause to dream big and one of them is an unbeaten mare with a Black Type pedigree.