Burgundy Mare Flower Of Wanaka blooms in Tauranga Classic

Media Release - Saturday July 1

Trainer Chrissy Bambry celebrated her recent engagement with a huge result at Hastings on Saturday when Flower Of Wanaka downed a solid line-up of fillies and mares in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m).

Flower of Wanaka winning at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North

The four-year-old daughter of Burgundy made light of her support on the tote, which saw her start at odds of better than $45, as she produced a resolute finish in the concluding stages to hold out the fast-finishing Secret Amour and another outsider in Shelbyrock’n.

Unsighted since finishing third at Otaki back in November, the one-race winner didn’t look out of her grade as she travelled sweetly during the contest where race favourite Wessex set up a breakneck speed in front.

Wessex began to battle at the 200m as Flower Of Wanaka and rider Lily Sutherland swept to the front, quickly putting the final result beyond doubt as they took the win by just on two lengths.

Bambry, who recently returned from a break in Fiji with fiancée Andrew Lacy, was thrilled to get the victory with a mare she describes as “an absolute honey”.

“She is a mare who just tries so hard and is a pleasure to do anything with,” Bambry said.

“She loves it here at Hastings, so we thought we would kick off her new campaign in the rating 65 1400m, but when they moved this race here, I thought we should give it a go and test her out in stakes company.

“She has really matured over the break she had and while I thought she would be a chance I was surprised at just how easily she won it.”

Bambry was quick to praise the ride of apprentice Sutherland, who followed her instructions to the letter.

Advertisement

“Lily was just superb,” she said.

“We had a chat and noted that Wessex was likely to go forward strongly, so I didn’t want to be too far off her at the turn.

“Lily got her in a lovely rhythm and when she wound up she just burst away from them.

“She comes from a lovely family and this win really adds to her value in the future, so I think we might see if we can get her more black type over the next few months.

“I don’t have any specific targets, but I will talk to her owner and see if we might put in a late nomination for the Winter Cup at Riccarton.”

The Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) will be run at Riccarton on August 5.

Bred and raced by Gene Tsoi under his Standard 2020 Ltd banner, Flower Wanaka is a daughter of the Green Perfume mare Wanaka, the dam of Gr.2 Western Australian Derby (2400m) winner Tuscan Dream and a half-sister to 2003 Singapore Horse Of The Year, Zirna. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
Brave Blood
With the Group I Queensland Oaks and Derby to both be run at Eagle Farm this Saturday, after appalling weather forced racing to be abandoned last week, there is no chance this year of one horse winning both, but a filly that achieved the feat in 1988 is playing a key role in this year’s carnival.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Brendan Lindsay honoured - Knights of the Cambridge Stud roundtable
The Cambridge Stud legacy continues to grow, with current co-principal Brendan Lindsay appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King's Birthday Honours for his services to business and philanthropy.
Pencarrow Stud hits a hundred winners in stellar season
Pencarrow Stud has celebrated an outstanding achievement with a century of homebred winners for the season.
$850,000 Extreme Choice Colt Equals MM National Yearling Record
A stunning colt by Extreme Choice equalled the all time record price at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast today when he sold for $850,000.
Williams honoured with Damehood
Two thoroughbred industry stalwarts have been bestowed one of New Zealand’s highest honours in the King’s Birthday honour list, including Catriona Williams, who has been appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to spinal cord injury research and equestrian sport.
Spring Goals for Progressive Per Incanto
Spring stakes assignments are in the crosshairs for exciting gelding Twain following his victory in the Waihou Tavern (1150m) at Te Aroha on Monday.
Winx to Visit Too Darn Hot
World champion racehorse Winx is set for a new chapter in her stud career this spring with an announcement from her ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke that Too Darn Hot (GB) is the chosen one.