Tavistock 3YO Stakes a Derby Claim

Media Release - Saturday February 19

Just as pundits were set to talk of the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 5 as a one-horse race following La Crique’s dominant victory in the Gr.2 AJC Avondale Guineas (2100m), late-bloomer Pinarello added another layer to the million dollar feature.

Pinarello looms into Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) contention with a comfortable win at Ellerslie Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

The well-bred son of Tavistock landed a Rating 65 event, the Ecochill 2100 in impressive fashion and despite a stop-start four-race preparation for Roger James and Robert Wellwood, has a sense of timing heading into the blue-riband event.

Having missed a planned run after a trackwork mishap before a below par third at Ruakaka earlier this month, Pinarello showed he was right back on track when cruising to a four and a half-length victory over his older rivals.

Pinarello settled midfield in a sedately run race and one off the fence before rider Vinnie Colgan was on the move 700 metres from home and let down strongly to defeat Castle Bay and Super Sid in 2:13.47.

As the winner of two of his four starts, with a further two placings, the Brendan and Jo Lindsay-raced gelding is now a $6 second favourite for the March 5 feature in a market headed by La Crique at $2.60.

“I can’t wipe the smile off my face and it’s a relief – we’ve been telling Brendan and Jo that he was a Derby prospect and he was disappointing at Ruakaka,” co-trainer Robert Wellwood said.

“This was only his fourth run and it was nice to see him do what we thought he could. He relaxed with the blinkers on and he was super impressive, we’re very proud of him.

Advertisement

“He is still learning and we’re hoping he can put his best foot forward in the big dance.”

Colgan’s confidence was boosted by Pinarello’s performance in what was an indifferently run contest.

“He was disappointing at Ruakaka, but that track can trip a few up. The blinkers sharpened him up and in a muddling run race he still got over the top of them and was strong through the line,” he said.

A half-brother to stakes winners Bavella and Vernazza, Pinarello is out of the Zabeel mare Zonza, who won the Gr.3 Ladies’ Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield for James.

Zonza has an unraced Tavistock two-year-old filly named Zazon, a yearling daughter of Almanzor and was served in 2021 by Bivouac. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Ecochill (Bm65) 2100m

Ellerslie Track: Dead(5) Time: 2:13.47
1
Pinarello
- 3g Tavistock (NZ) x Zonza (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: V A Colgan 58.5
2
4.5
Castle Bay
- 5m Castledale (IRE) x Strategic Blonde (NZ) (Strategic Image (AUS))
Tnr: W D Larsen Rdr: A J Calder 56.5
3
4.7
Super Sid
- 5g Rip Van Winkle (IRE) x Half Bak (NZ) (Churchill Downs (AUS))
Tnr: D B Hollinshead Rdr: D J Danis 58
4
5.0
Ess Vee Are
- 3g Shocking (AUS) x Reiveke (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: D R Weatherley Rdr: S R Weatherley 58.5
5
5.4
Rising Road
- 5m Sufficient (NZ) x Star Road (NZ) (Danroad (AUS))
Tnr: N P Bishara Rdr: M Hashizume 55.5
6
5.6
Bunkers
- 4m Kermadec (NZ) x Inscrutable (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P & D Williams Rdr: A C Goindasamy 55
7
5.7
Trigon Lad
- 6g Towkay (AUS) x Trigon Lass (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: M, M F & M L Rogers Rdr: C M Burdan 56.5
8
8.7
All Paid Up
- 6g Unencumbered (AUS) x Redoutebelle (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: P & D Williams Rdr: N S Parmar 57
9
10.3
Fast Willie
- 4g Teofilo (IRE) x Remind Me (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: K Asano 59.5
10
11.0
Amalfi Prince
- 3g Sebring (AUS) x Campania (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: O P Bosson 58.5
11
15.6
Insignia
- 4m Savabeel (AUS) x Regalia (NZ) (Duelled (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: L H Satherley 55.5
12
16.0
Happy Remark
- 5g He's Remarkable (NZ) x Jungle Joy (NZ) (Jungle Pocket (JPN))
Tnr: A D Fuller Rdr: J Kamaruddin 53
13
19.9
Oso Savvy
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Heyday (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: M Cameron 58.5
14
21.3
Lady Gwendolyn
- 5m Poet's Voice (GB) x Miss Charlize (ARG) (Lode (USA))
Tnr: Debbie Sweeney Rdr: C J Grylls 56.5
More Reading...
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
Racing’s Night of Champions August 28
45 of the top horses in Australia will be recognised for outstanding performances during the 2024/2025 racing season at Racing’s Night of Champions.
Zoustar's Breeders Cup Winner Starlust Arrives at Riverstone
Zoustar’s Breeders Cup winner Starlust has arrived at his new home, Riverstone Lodge in the Hunter Valley with the stud posting video of his arrival.
Breednet Distance Sire Tables Highlight Some Home Truths
The end of season is a great time to look back and assess what has happened in terms of sire results and what may happen in the future and more importantly what all of that might mean for Australian racing.
A Family Affair - Russian Camelot Filly Salutes at Sandown
Danny O’Brien enjoyed Group I success with outstanding colt Russian Camelot (IRE), so was understandably excited to produce his first metropolitan winner as a sire at Sandown on Wednesday and Censori comes from a family that he knows inside and out.
Zoustar Entering the Zenith
The dictionary tells us Zenith is an astronomical term —describing the highest point in an arc travelled by a star, planet or another celestial body- and in the case of this story it’s planet Zoustar!
Extremely Good Week!
It’s been a memorable week for Star Thoroughbreds having sold their multiple Group winning mare Olentia for $2.6million and then the purple and white stars were back in the winner’s circle at Canterbury on Wednesday carried by 3YO Extreme Choice colt Estremo.
First Foal for Hilal Delights Grangewilliam Stud
The first foal by Grangewilliam Stud’s Group Two winner and multiple Group One performer Hilal arrived on Thursday morning with a filly born out of the well-related No Nay Never mare La Frox.
2025 Cox Plate Entries – Who are the 3YO Cox Plate Dreamers?
108 entries have been received for the 2025 Group I MVRC Cox Plate (2040m) to be run on October 25 with a galaxy of stars that include 11 overseas contenders and a group of new season 3YO’s.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.