Winning Debut for Well Bred Darci Brahma 2YO

Media Release - Monday April 25

Debutant two-year-old filly Rionach showed she had inherited the family ability when she produced a powerful home straight surge to claim victory at Avondale on Monday.

The Darci Brahma juvenile is the granddaughter of well-performed racemare Irish Colleen who has also left the multiple winners Killarney, Neeson and Australian Group Three winner Crosshaven and was bred by part owner Daniel Nakhle along with his father Elias.

Two-year-old debutant Rionach wins at Avondale Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

Carrying the familiar teal colours of the Nakhle family, Rionach drifted back beyond midfield after a good beginning in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) before rider Ashvin Goindasamy unleashed her in the home straight to run down Medina who looked the winner at the 100m.

Co-trainer Dawn Williams, who was watching on from at home as husband Peter put the finishing touches on their team at Avondale on the day, was confident the filly was mature enough to cope with the race day proceedings despite missing a trial at Avondale earlier in the month when the two-year-old heats were cancelled.

“It probably worked out alright after she missed that trial, although we weren’t thinking that at the time,” she said.

“She has had a couple of jump-outs at home and is a very sensible filly so we thought she would be okay having a start without a trial under her belt.

“Her brain is in the right place and we would have been happy if she had finished in the first four, so to get a win and take home the Pearl Series bonus is a wonderful result.”

The Williams team have enjoyed considerable success in the race with former Group One winner Media Sensation winning it at her second start while Verstappen was also successful on debut last season.

“We have managed to win the race a few times now and it is a race that we like to give our late season two-year-old fillies a go in for education purposes,” Williams said.

“I can’t see us doing too much more with this filly as she could turn out to be a nice three-year-old as she appeals as that type of horse.

Advertisement

“She can have a spell now and then we can start to get her ready for the spring,”

Two other members of the Williams team heading to the spelling paddock are two-year-olds Waitak and Boss Man who featured in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Pukekohe on Saturday.

Waitak finished a gallant second when nabbed on the line by winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart after being wide throughout while Boss Man, who was having just his third start, was a little overawed by the occasion and finished towards the rear of the field.

“Waitak got caught out a bit, which told in the end, but the angle of the finish there at Pukekohe got me as I thought he may have held on,” Williams said.

“He is heading to the paddock and will come back bigger and better as a three-year-old if the feedback from the riders who have had a sit on him is correct.

“We think Boss Man just got a bit out of his comfort zone and never really fired.

“He had been very unlucky at Ruakaka at his previous start and has the ability there, so he can have a break now as well, with the pair of them having the ability to compete at a decent level next season.”

Later on the Avondale card the Williams team tasted further success, with Our Tristabelle upstaging Queensland Derby prospect Tutukaka over 1400m, while Verstappen finished third in the Remembering ANZAC (1400m). – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Lisa Kennedy Recognized for Thoroughbred Welfare
Lisa Kennedy has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, and her efforts in guiding retired racehorses into new careers through EventStars were celebrated at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards last Sunday as the winner of the Care and Welfare Excellence Award.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday morning and the winners include unraced youngsters by Cool Aza Beel and I Am Invincible, plus a Farnan colt that tried his luck in Group races in the autumn and was far from disgraced.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Synthetic track meetings at Ballarat can throw up some misleading form, but a debut winner from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable that started in the red and won by nine lengths is probably worth a closer look.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
Third Winner for Peltzer
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Peltzer added a third winner to his tally with a debut victory at Canberra on Friday for the well named gelding I Show Speed.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Invincible 2YO Colt wins for Bennett Racing
The $150,000 VRC Next Gen Sprinters Series Final (1200m) for two year-olds at Flemington on Saturday drew a competitive field of progressive juveniles and the colt that stood out on type in the yard was the one that got the cash with I Am Invincible colt Jimmy Recard proving too good for race favourite Bacash.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.