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
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...
G1 Placed Lavalier Tops Inglis Digital for Godolphin
The fourth most successful Inglis Digital auction in history tonight concluded with 15 lots realising $100,000 or more, leading to a gross in excess of $7m.
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
One to Watch - Belmont
Racing made a welcome return to Belmont Park yesterday and the first winner to salute on the freshly renovated track was a two year-old that started a red hot favourite and could not have been more impressive!
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Incredible Quality in Magic Millions Virtual Sale
A breeding right to the world's most prolific sire - by elite level strike rate - will stand alongside a swag of stakes performed fillies and mares in next month's Magic Millions August Virtual Sale, with the initial catalogue unveiled today.
Another G1 Triumph for Aga Khan Stud Bred Gelding
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who made it back to back G1 wins overnight when beating a select field in a tactical battle to win the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.
Inglis Digital Now Online - G1 Winner Velocious the Star
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) has been joined by a host of outstanding racing and breeding prospects in a tantalising Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale catalogue.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
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.