Tivaci looking to go back-to-back in Flight Stakes

Media Release - Friday September 30

Waikato Stud stallion Tivaci has the chance of recording back-to-back wins in the Gr.1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

A Group One winner himself, Tivaci secured his first elite-level victory as a sire in last year’s edition of the race courtesy of Never Been Kissed, and he has a strong chance this year with his Group Two-winning daughter Wolverine.

Wolverine is looking her first or G1 in the flight stakes - image Trish Dunell

She showed early promise in New Zealand when trained by Roydon Bergerson, for whom she won her first three career starts, including the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m), before finishing runner-up in both the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

She subsequently joined Kris Lees’ Newcastle barn and has had two starts in Australia, running sixth in the Gr.2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) last month before running third in the Gr.2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick a fortnight ago.

Randwick was rated a Soft7 on Friday morning and Lees doesn’t see the track conditions as a concern for his filly.

I think she will be comfortable in it. She has handled the soft okay since she has been out here. She has worked well on it,” Lees told RSN.

“She has got a more favourable gate (1), albeit that inside can be a bit off at Randwick as the day progresses.

“It will enable her to be a little closer in the run. We have been dictated by bad gates to go back. She has been strong late but is probably getting too far out of her ground.

“At least with a soft draw she can maybe take up a bit more forward position.”

The Flight Stakes has attracted just 10 entrants but Lees believes it will be a competitive edition of the race.

“It is a really competitive race. I think any of the top six in the market could be winning a race like that,” he said.

Advertisement

Wolverine hasn’t been tested further than 1400m, but Lees believes a mile will suit his filly.

“All the indications are that she will run out a strong mile,” he said.

Lees is unsure what Wolverine will target following Saturday and said the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield next month is an option.

“She is in the nominations (for the Thousand Guineas). It is something to consider,” he said.

“There are still some nice three-year-old races, albeit they will be against the boys in Sydney.

“We will cross that bridge after Saturday.”

Tivaci

Wolverine was purchased by Bergerson and bloodstock agent Chris Rutten for $50,000 out of Waikato Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft.

Australian Bloodstock subsequently bought into the filly and she will carry their familiar silks this weekend.

Her sire Tivaci stands at Waikato Stud for a fee of $20,000+GST. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wootton Bassett and Camelot 2YO Colts Win Final French Group Ones
The last French Group I races of their flat season were run on Sunday and Aidan O’Brien produced the winners of both the Group I Criterium International (1600m) and Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (1800m).
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.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
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.
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).
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.