New SW for Contributer - Contribute Wins G3 Taranaki Cup

Media Release - Saturday February 3

The sensational summer form of Robbie Patterson’s New Plymouth stable kept on rolling on Saturday with his first win in the Gr.3 Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup (1800m) on his home track.

Contribute’s Cup victory was the 36th win of the season for Patterson, who now sits in fourth place on the New Zealand trainers’ premiership. He also saddled unbeaten three-year-old Shameless Boy to win an earlier race on Saturday’s card.

Patterson’s runners have earned more than $1.6 million, with six black-type victories headed by Puntura’s treble in the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m), Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m). Mary Louise won the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and One Bold Cat took out the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m).

“It’s been an amazing run, I can’t believe it,” Patterson said on Saturday. “I just hope it isn’t finished yet!

“Everyone always wants to win their home-town Cup, so it was very special to win that race today. It’s amazing, really.”

Contribute went into Saturday’s $120,000 race as the winner of four of her 19 career starts, including two in Queensland in August and September for Sunshine Coast trainers Stewart and Taylah Mackinnon.

The six-year-old Contributer mare closed out her Australian stint with an unplaced finish at Eagle Farm in late October, then went out for a spell before returning to action with an eye-catching fifth in the Douro Cup (1600m) at Trentham on January 20.

Saturday’s Taranaki Cup was just the second start of a new preparation for Contribute, and she rose to the occasion as the $5 favourite.

Ridden by Patterson’s apprentice Ciel Butler, Contribute settled in eighth place behind a fast pace set by tearaway leader Masetto.

Advertisement

Contribute strides to victory in the Gr.3 Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup (1800m) for apprentice Ciel Butler.  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

The defending Taranaki Cup champion Colorado Star dragged the field up behind that rival and hit the front soon after turning for home, but Contribute was looming ominously wider out on the track. Butler got her balanced up and then got her to change gears, striding forward and taking command with 200m remaining.

Fellow Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb chased bravely down the outside, but Contribute was going too strongly and held her out by half a length. Hi Yo Sass Bomb finished second, two and a half lengths ahead of the third-placed Saint Alice.

It was the first black-type win for Butler, who replaced Craig Grylls on the 53kg lightweight runner on the morning of the race.

“I’m absolutely rapt for Ciel,” Patterson said. “Craig was going to take the ride, but he just wasn’t able to make the weight this morning. He’s been struggling with a bit of a virus lately, so that’s not his fault.

“But Ciel thoroughly deserves this. She does all the work on this horse every day, and she had her in exactly the right place today.”

Bred and raced by Ross Bellingham and Adrianne Gemmell, Contribute has now had 20 starts for five wins, seven placings and $184,755 in stakes.

“This horse has done a bloody good job,” Patterson said. “She got back from Aussie and had a bit of time off. She ran really well over a mile first-up, then went straight into this good race a couple of weeks later. It was great to see her produce that sort of performance.

“We’ll have to try to chase more black type from here. A race like the Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.3, 2000m) might be a good option a bit further down the track.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Visit the profile page for Contributer

Contributer in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 7
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Stakes Goals Ahead for Supido Mare
Astute trainer David Payne is no stranger to G1 success and has always held Supido mare Shohisha in high regard and she showed the potential of better things to come this spring when powering home to win the Benchmark 94 event over 1600m at Randwick on Saturday.
Derby Dreaming for Crown of Russia
Danny O’Brien already has one promising winner by his former G1 star Russian Camelot (IRE) in the stable in Censori and on Sunday at Bendigo he unleashed another.
More Stakes Success for Impending - Cool Memory Wins Listed Farnley
A son of Larneuk Stud's value Lonhro stallion Impending, five year old Cool Memory bolted in to claim his second stakes win and bring joy to favourite backers on a rain-drenched Saturday at Belmont Park.
Ka Ying Rising Straight to Everest Quarantine after Return Romp
Hong Kong Champion Ka Ying Rising was headed straight to quarantine to prepare for the Group I The Everest after another stunning performance when resuming for the new season on Sunday at Sha Tin.
G1 Haydock Sprint Cup Upset
Wathnan Racing were expecting to win the Group I Haydock Sprint Cup (6f) overnight with short priced race favourite Lazzat, but the best he could manage was fifth behind progressive three year-old colt Big Mojo.
Pericles Turns Back the Clock
Six year-old Street Boss (USA) gelding Pericles won the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes (1400m) two years ago in 2023 when trained by James Cummings and he repeated the effort at Randwick on Saturday, but this time he is in the care of Bjorn Baker.
Ones to Watch – Bendigo
At this time of year, you tend to take special notice of well-bred 3YO debut winners and three of them arrived at Bendigo on Sunday that were all interesting for different reasons and none more so than one who has a name that has become infamous this year.
Pedigree Watch – 3YO Plus That G1 Late Bloomer
Saturday delivered another exciting instalment of early spring racing with three stakes races for 3YO’s and once again all of them were won by new first time stakes-winners that were virtually unsighted at two and we also had a new G1 winner, whose path to the top has been anything but smooth.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 6
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.