Blueblood Juvenile Stakes-Winner for Snitzel

Tara Madgwick - Saturday November 19

The winning roll by runners from the Andrew Forsman stable continued at Pukekohe on Saturday when promising filly Ethereal Star collected the first feature race on the day, the Listed Barfoot & Thompson Challenge Stakes (1100m).

Wiremu Pinn and Ethereal Star combine for a comfortable victory in the Listed Barfoot & Thomson Challenge Stakes (1100m) Photo: Trish Dunell

The daughter of Snitzel and Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) placegetter Eleonora had caught the eye on debut at Te Rapa earlier in the month when making up good ground to finish second over 1000m.

The extra 100m of Saturday’s contest suited her down to the ground as she balanced up nicely on the Heavy9 rated surface, after making the turn three wide, and charged to the line to win comfortably by two lengths from the late closing Balance Of Power.

Forsman was delighted with the way the filly coped on the Heavy track, with the win comfortably qualifying her for the $1million DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at the venue on January 21.

“You are always nervous when the track is the way it is and you don’t know whether they are going to handle it, but there were only seven runners and black type was up for grabs,” Forsman said.

“She was going to go for a spell whatever happened, so it was great to see her win like that.

“Provided she comes through this well, she won’t need another run before the Karaka Million.”

Rider Wiremu Pinn, who picked up the mount after Ryan Elliot withdrew from his rides on the day, was critical of his own performance but taken by the way Ethereal Star found the line in the run home.

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“She is a really nice horse as I didn’t do her any favours being out three wide, with no cover,” he said.

“Just from that sticky gate (6) she jumped too well to go back and get cover and going forward would have left her vulnerable, so full credit to her.

“She travelled well all the way and I think she will be even better on top of the ground, as she has won with a bit of authority today.”

Ethereal Star was a $600,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase.

Bred by Lib Petagna under his JML Bloodstock banner, Ethereal Star was a $600,000 purchase out of the Blandford Lodge draft by Forsman in conjunction with agents Andrew Williams and Bevan Smith during the Book 1 Sale at Karaka in March.

She comes from an extended family that includes multiple stakes winner Supera and is the great granddaughter of the four-time Australian Group One winner Ethereal.

Ethereal Star is the 129th stakes-winner for champion sire Snitzel.

Her win takes her to the top of the qualifying table for the Karaka Million, ahead of a trio of Mark Walker-trained runners in Rhetorical, Balance of Power and Viva Vienna. – NZ Racing Desk

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Race Result - Challenge Stakes LR 1100m

Pukekohe Park Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:07.08
1
Ethereal Star
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: W F Pinn 55
2
1.8
Balance Of Power
- 2c Almanzor (FR) x Respin (NZ) (Power (GB))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: C Zackey 57
3
6.6
Luberon
- 2f Embellish (NZ) x Elegant Achiever (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: Warren Kennedy 55
4
7.0
Orgullo
- 2f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x World Of Gold (IRE) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: C R Isdale Rdr: L H Satherley 55
5
7.4
Vila Belmiro
- 2g Santos (AUS) x Adorent (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: N W Tiley Rdr: S C Spratt 57
6
9.2
Buccino
- 2f Lonhro (AUS) x Shuffled (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: G Richardson & R Norvall Rdr: J Kamaruddin 55
7
13.8
Cyclonic King
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Lady Krovanh (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: C J Grylls 57
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