Almanzor Filly Wins G3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes

Media Release - Saturday April 22

In a race affected by the late scratching of pre-post favourite Desert Lightning due to the downgrade of the track to a Heavy 10 earlier in the day, it was consistent filly Cheval D’Or who mastered the testing conditions to take out the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) at Pukekohe.

Cheval D’Or and Michael McNab took out the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) at Pukekohe Photo: Trish Dunell

The half-sister to multiple Group One winning sprinter Bostonian, who had finished in the first four in all of her previous five starts without notching up a win, came in for some inspired late support to start as the $3.40 race favourite ahead of Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) winner Arby.

Rider Michael McNab had earlier taken out the two-year-old feature, the Listed Staphanos At Novara Park Champagne Stakes (1600m) aboard Loch Katrine and had been enthusiastic about his chances after discussing pre-race tactics with trainer Tony Pike.

“She travelled really well although I didn’t really know what to expect from her,” McNab said.

“When Tony gave me the colours I asked him what he thought and he said he thought she would love it (the wet track).

“He wasn’t wrong as the whole way she just travelled beautifully.

“She probably wasn’t as effective the last 400m, but getting through the track makes her effective as the way she was able to conserve energy on that sort of track is very good.

“I think she is one of our better three-year-olds and you will see that at the latter end of the season as she is going the right way.”

Pike was also full of praise for the daughter of Almanzor who he purchased for The Oaks Stud boss Dick Karreman for $420,000 out of the Waikato Stud draft during the Book 1 Yearling Sale at Karaka in 2021.

Advertisement

“She has been in great form throughout this preparation and deserved that win today,” Pike said.

“She is a half-sister to Bostonian and he got through this type of track, so we were crossing our fingers a little, but she has done it well and is a good, staying filly.”

Pike advised he has bigger things earmarked for his charge who looks likely to contest some of the feature three-year-old filly races during the upcoming Brisbane Winter carnival.

“We’ve been over in Brisbane a few times when conditions haven’t been ideal so it’s nice to know you can cop a track like that,” he said.

“She has form on good ground so is very versatile and as long as she pulls up well there is no reason why we won’t go.

“She has been a little unlucky not to win a race before today and as a slow-maturing filly she is now starting to put things together.

“It is six weeks until the Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m) so we might consider running her in The Roses (Gr.2, 2000m) first but that will be determined by how she pulls up today.”

Cheval D’Or becomes the eighth individual stakes winner for Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor who will stand his sixth southern hemisphere season at the famed Cambridge nursery later in 2023. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
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.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Richard Johnston has bred some very good horses under his Bylong Park banner including triple Group I winner Think It Over and an Anders three year-old he bred and races was an eye-catching debut winner at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
€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.
Breeding to Win - 2025 Manikato Stakes
Racing at The Valley on Grand Final Eve in Melbourne - the southern capital doing what it does best, bringing people together in celebration of sporting greatness!
Aquis Welcome First foals for Young Gun Officiating
A fast Group winning sprinter by Breeders Cup Classic winner Blame, Officiating (USA) was carefully selected by Aquis Stallions following a global headhunting mission to secure an outcross stallion for Queensland and his first foals are arriving this spring.
Golden Rose Colts – Sires of the Future
The $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) this Saturday offers the winner far more than prizemoney and assuming it’s a colt he is given a golden ticket to a commercial stud career, so let’s take a look at this year’s contenders, who would you want on your stallion roster in 2026?
Invincible Filly Snares $100,000 Inglis Bonus
The least expensive filly by champion sire I Am Invincible sold at Inglis Easter in 2024, Wear the Crown always looked to have been well bought at $260,000 by Seib/Racing / Champion Thoroughbreds and she set about repaying her purchase price at Goulburn on Thursday.
30 Runners in Goffs Million!
The stage is set for Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the Goffs Million (7f), which has attracted a maximum field of 30 runners at the Curragh this Saturday and the €1 million contest, with prize money down to 10th, is only open to graduates of last year’s Goffs Orby Sale.
Sires With Winners - Thursday September 25
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ardrossan Filly Wins First Kiwi Juvenile Race of New Season
Otaki horseman Johno Benner has a good association with the Karaka Millions, and he could have another serious contender on his hands for January’s showpiece.