Mightybeel Leads a Karaka Book 1 Stakes Trifecta

Media Release - Monday February 21

The familiar blue and white colours of kiwi syndicators Go Racing were carried to a dominant victory in Saturday’s A$140,000 Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill, heading a clean sweep for Karaka graduates. 

Mightybeel wins the Parramatta Cup - image Steve Hart.

The impressive winner was Mightybeel (NZ) (Savabeel), who was bought by Go Racing for $200,000 from Little Avondale Stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2019. He has now had 15 starts for six wins, four placings and A$347,455 in stakes.

Strong-finishing second placegetter No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) was a $40,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2018. A half-brother to the multiple Group One winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park), he has won five of his 23 starts and A$336,200.

Another length away in third was Toomuchtobear (NZ) (Press Statement), who cost $120,000 in Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He has earned A$324,440 in an 11-start, five-win career. Remarkably, all of the first three placegetters come from the all-conquering stable of champion expat New Zealand trainer Chris Waller.

But Mightybeel was the star of Saturday’s show. After spending most of the race in eighth place among a field of 14, rider Tommy Berry released the brakes in the straight and the exciting four-year-old swept to the front with stunning ease. Mightybeel bounded clear through the final 150 metres, scoring by two and a half lengths.

“It is not too often in staying races where you’re just giggling to yourself around the 1200-metre mark,” Berry said.

“He has come back a much more relaxed type this preparation. He is quite exciting – he can go to the next level now, and he’s in at the right time of the year.”

Advertisement

Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth suggested that Mightybeel will now be aimed at the A$2m Group One Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 9.

“That was a fantastic victory,” Duckworth said. “He is ultra-consistent, he is incredibly tough and he is obviously pretty classy too. The Sydney Cup is where he will go. He stays unbelievably well.

“If you scroll back a year from today, he ran around Canterbury over 1550 metres, and we were going to spell him. James McDonald actually rode him that night and suggested pushing on to a Derby. He came undone when we stepped him up in journey, because it was all a bit too quick.

“We have waited a year and he is living up to expectations. He is a proper, Group-class horse.”

Mightybeel is related to one of the modern-day greats of Australasian staying ranks. His granddam is a half-sister to Benediction (Day Is Done), whose son Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel) was a legendary winner of the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Melbourne Cup (3200m) double in 1997.

Vendor Little Avondale Stud
Purchaser Go Racing (Auckland)
Breeding Savabeel – Super Power
Sale Lot 450, Karaka 2019 Book 1, $200,000
Bred by Barlow Thoroughbred
Advertisment

Race Result - Parramatta Cup LR 1900m

Rosehill Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:58.30
1
Mightybeel
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Super Power (NZ) (Alamosa (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 54
Inglis Ready2Race Sale $130,000
Seller: Leanach Lodge, Cambridge, NZ
Buyer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing / Kestrel Thoroughbreds
NZB Karaka Book 1 $130,000
Seller: Little Avondale Stud
Buyer: CH Bloodstock
2
2.5
No Compromise
- 5g Pins (AUS) x Baggy Green (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Ford 53
3
3.8
Toomuchtobear
- 4g Press Statement (AUS) x Bearish (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 53
4
3.9
Great House
- 5g Galileo (IRE) x Anja (IRE) (Indian Ridge (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: C Schofield 59
5
4.8
Parry Sound
- 6g Pierro (AUS) x Aqua D'Amore (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: W Pike 55
6
5.4
Sheraz
- 5g Sea The Stars (IRE) x Shemiyla (FR) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Parr 57
7
5.8
Entente
- 5g Dundeel (NZ) x Nextess (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 59.5
8
6.1
Mubariz
- 6g Dansili (GB) x Could It Be (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 53
9
6.9
Nickajack Cave
- 6g Kendargent (FR) x Could You Be Loved (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: S Clipperton 58.5
10
8.1
Sweet Thomas
- 10g Dylan Thomas (IRE) x Sworn Pro (GER) (Protektor (GER))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Tom Sherry 54
11
8.3
Mustajeer
- 9g Medicean (GB) x Qelaan (USA) (Dynaformer (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J R Collett 58
12
8.7
First In Line
- 6g New Approach (IRE) x Hidden Hope (GB) (Daylami (IRE))
Tnr: James Harding Rdr: Rachel King 54
13
9.0
True Marvel
- 6g Masked Marvel (GB) x Anecdotique (FR) (Enrique (GB))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Tyler Schiller 53
14
34.3
Skyward
- 6g Camelot (GB) x Shakeyourbody (USA) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: Paul Messara Rdr: B Avdulla 58
More Reading...
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Magic Millions First Digital Sale - Opportunities Aplenty
Bidding is now open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale with opportunities across all levels of the market for prospective buyers.
Consistency Key On Day One of 2025 Breeze Ups
After the rescheduling of dates for NZB’s anticipated 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups, Day One kicked off on Monday at Te Rapa Racecourse with consistent times, weather and track conditions.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.