G2 Winner for Fastnet Rock

Media Release - Saturday March 26

Underrated galloper Gino Severini (IRE) provided a fitting tribute to his part-owner, the late Ray Wallace, when he produced a fighting performance to take out the Group II Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga on Saturday.

One of the most familiar names in the New Zealand training ranks for over fourty years, Wallace passed away recently at the ripe old age of 92.

Gino Severini takes out the Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga Photo Credit: Race Images – Kenton Wright

Sporting the well-known blue and white colours of the Wallace family, Gino Severini overcame a wide run for rider Andrew Calder to out-finish Hypnos and Cheval Prometteur in the Group Two feature.

Prepared by Wallace’s son Bruce in partnership with former top jockey Grant Cooksley from their Byerley Park base, the eight-year-old son of Fastnet Rock came into the race off an extended campaign that had seen him competitive in a number of Group One features over the spring and summer including a close-up finish for third behind Callsign Mav in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate back in September.


“He is always thereabouts and tries very hard,” Cooksley said.

“He has been up for quite a while but we’ve spaced his races well and he has had a few niggles that have meant we had to back off him a few times.

“The big worry today was whether he would handle the Heavy 10 track, but he had won a trial in similar ground before and I think being out wide probably helped him out.

“He is the sort of horse that likes a bit of room so he got that today and delivered.

“Andrew actually said that when he got to the front, he waited a little for them, but when he saw Hypnos coming, he knuckled down again and won it pretty well.

“It is a great result for the Wallace family after Ray passed away and we might just have had that bird on the shoulder to get that win for them.”

Cooksley advised that Gino Severini would most likely head to the spelling paddock for a decent break before returning for another spring campaign next season.

“He is quite lightly raced and being bred to northern hemisphere time is six months below the age in the book,” he said.

“He can have a break now and we’ll bring him back next season for a similar path to the one he had for this campaign.

“We will change a few things around but while he is competitive in the top grade there are plenty of opportunities for him.”

The victory was win number seven for Gino Severini, who has taken his career prizemoney to in excess of $377,000.

Irish bred Gino Severini is a half-brother to Group I winner Millisle, the Champion 2YO European Filly of 2019, and stakes-winner Ithoughtitwasover being one of nine winners from terrific producer Green Castle. - NZ RAcing Desk 


 

Advertisment

Race Result - Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy Gr2 1600m

Tauranga Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:42.27
1
Gino Severini
- 8g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Green Castle (IRE) (Indian Ridge (IRE))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: A J Calder 56
Fastnet Rock
2
0.3
Hypnos
- 6g Reliable Man (GB) x Quality Dream (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: S M Mc Kay 57
MM Gold Coast National Yearling Sale $75,000
Seller: Westbury Stud Ltd, Karaka, NZ
Buyer: Winners Bloodstock
3
0.4
Cheval Prometteur
- 7g Declaration Of War (USA) x Shibina (IRE) (Kalanisi (IRE))
Tnr: Ms C Cameron Rdr: S C Spratt 56
4
0.6
Masetto
- 6g Cape Blanco (IRE) x Passchendaele (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55
5
1.4
True Enough
- 8g Nom Du Jeu (NZ) x Valda's Dream (NZ) (Sakura Seeking (USA))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: A C Goindasamy 55
6
4.7
Order Again
- 8g Iffraaj (GB) x Glass Half Full (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy (USA))
Tnr: B W Foote Rdr: S R Weatherley 55.5
More Reading...
Manhattan Rain Gold Rush in WA
Geisel Park won’t be the only WA breeder on board when the first locally-conceived 2yo crop of its Group 1 sire Manhattan Rain get mobile this season.
Record-Breaking Weetwood Win To Dundeel’s Tavs
Having not raced since fourth in the Listed BRC Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, the Mark Currie trained Tavs (Dundeel) resumed from a spell to record his first black type victory, winning the Listed Weetwood (1200m) at Toowoomba on Saturday in track record time.
Golden Slipper Winner Marhoona Resumes With Heritage Stakes Win
Having not been seen on race day since her success in the Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper (1200m), Champion 2YO Marhoona (Snitzel) put pay to any ‘Golden Slipper hoodoo’ to win the Listed ATC Heritage Stakes (1100m) at her first start at 3.
G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude Victory To Ferivia
Successful in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes two starts back, the Phillip Stokes trained Ferivia secured victory in the Group 2 MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude, becoming the second Group winner in the last 24 hours for the stable after the success of Snow Mercy overnight in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes.
Proisir 6YO Waitak Captures Another G1
Saturday's Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa took Waitak past the million-dollar barrier and added another triumphant chapter to his unique Group One record.
Kiwi Bred Evaporate Wins G3 Sandown Stakes
Smart four-year-old Evaporate bounced back from a setback to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in gallant fashion, defeating favourite Transatlantic by a nose.
Waterford Wins G2 Shannon Stakes
Talented import Waterford (IRE) has long promised to win a stakes race and he did the job in spectacular fashion at Rosehill on Saturday when scoring a dominant win in the $300,000 Group II ATC Shannon Stakes (1500m).
€1.9million Sale-Topping Colt Wins G3 Somerville Stakes
The Group III Somerville Stakes (7f) was run at Newmarket overnight with the Godolphin blue carried by exciting Night of Thunder colt Distant Storm, who they purchased for a sale-topping €1.9million at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale earlier this year.
Manaal Wins G2 Golden Pendant – Stakes Double Emirates Park
At the official Sydney 2YO trials two years ago in 2023 two fillies impressed in their heat with Gerringong winning and Manaal finishing a close third and the pair filled the quinella in the $400,000 Group II ATC Golden Pendant (1400m ) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Beiwacht Breaks Track Record In G1 Golden Rose Romp
With many of the opinion that Godolphin would provide the winner of this year’s $1m Group 1 ATC Golden Rose (1400m), they were right, but not with the 3yo expected as the Chris Waller trained Bivouac colt Beiwacht was simply sensational in his track record breaking victory.