El Roca Mare Wins Easter Cup

Media Release - Saturday April 9

Feisty five-year-old Irish Girl showed all her fighting qualities as she bravely held out the challenges of Beneficial and Seriously to win the Listed Avon City Ford Easter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton.

Co-trainer Krystal Williams-Tuhoro with jockey Terry Moseley and Irish Girl Photo Credit: Race Images South

The Ruakaka-prepared daughter of El Roca was taken south by trainers Ken Rae and his daughter Krystal Williams-Tuhoro to tackle several of the black type features at Riccarton during their autumn carnival and she made it two from two on Saturday after defeating members of the fairer sex in the Gr.3 South Island Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at her previous start.

This time she tackled the boys as well, however it made no difference as she displayed her determined will to win to collect her seventh career victory.

Rider Terry Mosely made good use of a handy barrier draw (6) to bounce the mare into a prominent position from the start before taking up the trail behind pacemaker Seriously.

Seriously put three lengths on Irish Girl rounding the home bend and looked to have her and the rest of the field in trouble as he was still clear with 150m to run.

Mosely got to work on Irish Girl and she slowly but surely pulled the margin back to put her head in front on the post as Beneficial roared home from last on the corner to snatch second ahead of a brave Seriously who had to settle for third.

Rae, who was watching from his Ruakaka home, was left shaking his head at the tenaciousness of his charge.

“She is one tough cookie,” he said.

“I spoke with Terry after the race and he said she was flat on the corner but just wouldn’t give up.

“We’ve been very lucky as everything has gone to plan. Her main mission was the Breeders’ Stakes and once we won that anything afterwards is icing on the cake.”

Rae has been toying with taking the mare to Australia later in the winter and the venture could still be on the cards following one last assignment at Riccarton.

Advertisement

“I said to Vince Roberts, who co-bred and part owns her, that we should think About going over to Queensland,” Rae said.

“When we made the decision to stay down at Riccarton, we planned to tackle the Easter Cup today and then the Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr.3, 2000m) in a fortnight.

“We don’t know if she can get 2000m but at weight-for-age down at Riccarton she will get her best chance.

“Safely through that then she can have a short break and we could still put her on a plane to Queensland for late June and July, when the other kiwis are coming home.”

Irish Girl was bred by Roberts and co-owner Gary Hackett, with Roberts convincing Irish couple Louie and Pat Henaghan to take a share in the mare when they were last in New Zealand visiting their son.

“The Heneghans used to come over every couple of years to see their son and when they were last here before the COVID lockdowns I talked them into taking a share in Irish Girl,” Roberts said.

“They love their racing but haven’t been able to come and see her race.

“I do know they get up pretty early to listen to all her races so hopefully they are celebrating another win over breakfast back in Ireland.”

Out of the useful race mare Aimee’s Babe, Irish Girl is a granddaughter of stakes winner Aimee’s Idol and has now won seven of her 20 starts and over $208,000 in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Avon City Ford Easter Cup LR 1600m

Riccarton Park Track: Dead(5) Time: 1:35.53
1
Irish Girl
- 5m El Roca (AUS) x Aimees Babe (NZ) (Postponed (USA))
Tnr: K Rae & K Williams-Tuhoro Rdr: T R Moseley 56
2
0.2
Beneficial
- 7m Highly Recommended (AUS) x La Generose (NZ) (Generous (IRE))
Tnr: L R Beckett Rdr: A Comignaghi 54
3
0.4
Seriously
- 6g O'Reilly (NZ) x Promenade (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M E Cunneen Rdr: L J Allpress 54
4
2.2
Hasabro
- 6g Savabeel (AUS) x Halloween (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Carston Rdr: J R Lowry 61
5
2.7
Phelan The Power
- 4g Power (GB) x Layla Rose (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M P Jones Rdr: C W Johnson 54
6
3.2
Harbourside
- 6g Harbour Watch (IRE) x Scattered Dreams (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Ms T Rae Rdr: J Kamaruddin 54
7
5.1
Whale Song
- 6g Ocean Park (NZ) x Nadel Dame (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: S L Wynne 54
8
5.3
Pullyoursocksup
- 6m Thewayyouare (USA) x Grace Park (NZ) (Danske (NZ))
Tnr: Andrew Carston Rdr: K Chowdhoory 54
9
6.2
Four Queens
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Diamond Deck (NZ) (Octagonal (NZ))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: K Mudhoo 54
10
6.4
Southern Ocean
- 5g Ocean Park (NZ) x Viana (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Ms T Rae Rdr: Ms K Williams 54
11
9.4
Exchange
- 5g Ghibellines (AUS) x Swapping (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: B & S Anderton Rdr: C A Campbell 54
12
13.4
Amazon Goddess
- 5m Shamoline Warrior (AUS) x Goolagong (IRE) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: Kennedy Moore Rdr: T Jonker 54
More Reading...
Lonhro Blueblood Colt Wins Listed Dulcify
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate’ dreamers and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who scored his first stakes win at Randwick on Saturday when taking out the Listed ATC Dulcify Stakes (1600m).
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
So You Think Filly Wins G2 Edward Manifold
Danny O’Brien believes he has the Group I VRC Oaks in his sights with So You Think filly Getta Good Feeling breaking her maiden in the best way possible with a last stride win in the Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
$1million Stay Inside Colt Wins G3 Breeders Plate
Newgate Farm’s Golden Slipper winning sire Stay Inside got the perfect result with his first runner as $1million Magic Millions purchase Incognito scored a determined win in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday in the James Harron Bloodstock colours.
Four Winners for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
2YO Stakes Racing – Sale Mail
Three stakes races for new season juveniles add plenty of interest to a stellar day of racing this Saturday in Sydney and Melbourne, so let’s take a look at the Sale Mail for these races.
Too Darn Hot’s Shiki Wins G3 Gimcrack Stakes
Winning her heat in good time at the official 2yo trials saw the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Too Darn Hot filly Shiki jump away the race favourite in Saturday’s $250,000 Group 3 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (1000m), a race she duly won with a fighting performance.
Apocalyptic Crowned Darley Princess with G1 Flight Victory
Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic has been the dominant force in the Darley Princess Series this year and she claimed the jewel in the crown at Randwick on Saturday with a commanding win in the $750,000 Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m).
Mogumber Park hoists wet sail with Marine One
This time last year, the first foals by Mogumber Park stallion Marine One were widely regarded as some of the best types on the ground in Western Australia.
Miraval Rose Impresses With G2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes Win
Already a Listed winner at 3 and 4, Grahame Begg’s Grunt mare Miraval Rose added her third black type victory to her record, winning the $300,000 Group 2 VRC Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) in style at Flemington on Saturday.