Pounamu Strikes for Home Team in Kingston Town

Mark Smith - Saturday December 9

Pounamu had 13 starts in New South Wales without breaking his maiden and there were few tears shed when he made the long trip to Perth after trailing the field home in the 2015 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas won by Volkstok'n'barrell.

Not that the son of Epsom Derby winner Authorized was without ability.

He had placed in the Group III Spring Stakes at Newcastle and the Group III Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

Advertisement

It took him just one start to shed his maiden status in his new home for trainer Alan Mathews.

Patrick Carberry was on him that day as he has for all bar one of his next 23 starts.


A listed stakes winner in February, Pounamu broke through for his first Group win on November 4 in the Group III Asian Beau Stakes at Ascot.

The 6yo grey gelding prepped for Saturday's Group 1 Kingston Town Classic with a close-up sixth in the Group 1 Railway Stakes.

Settled back in the rear half of the field by Carberry, Pounamu came with a barnstorming finish to defeat Material Man (Vital Equine) by a half-length with 3yo gelding Acherner Star (Gingerbread Man) a half-head back in third. (photos Perth Racing )

It was a Wipeout for the eastern state invaders with It's Somewhat in fifth, Black Heart Bart (ninth) and Tom Melbourne (11th).

Pounamu advances his record to 9 wins, 7 seconds and 6 thirds from 37 starts with earnings of $1,122,530.

"He has been a work in progress. He won a couple of races here and was then the biggest bridesmaid in West Australia.," Mathews said.

"He finally got his around what we wanted him to do. He's has a trouble-free run, it's just wonderful.

"We've always said he has the ability, but he didn't have the concentration span to get his head around to doing it at the right time.

"We set this horse up for the race. Second up into the Railway and third up into this, it's all gone to plan."


Carrying the black with silver fern colours of his breeder John Thompson, Pounamu is the first foal of the winning Street Cry (IRE) mare Tangiwai who sadly died in October last year.

Tangiwai was a daughter of the Kenmare mare Lahar who also carried the Thompson silks with distinction.

The winner of the Listed STC Christmas Cup, Lahar placed in both the Group 1 Sydney Cup and Group 1 Melbourne Cup.

Also, the dam of 4-time winner Kokopu (Medaglia d'Oro) and the unraced 3yo filly Weeping Waters, Tangiwai has just one more foal in the pipeline, a 2yo filly also by Medaglia d'Oro (USA).

Pounamu becomes the fifth Group 1 winner for former Darley Stud's Authorized (Montjeu) who shuttled for four seasons, the last in 2012.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Extremely Good Week!
It’s been a memorable week for Star Thoroughbreds having sold their multiple Group winning mare Olentia for $2.6million and then the purple and white stars were back in the winner’s circle at Canterbury on Wednesday carried by 3YO Extreme Choice colt Estremo.
Zoustar Entering the Zenith
The dictionary tells us Zenith is an astronomical term —describing the highest point in an arc travelled by a star, planet or another celestial body- and in the case of this story it’s planet Zoustar!
Racing’s Night of Champions August 28
45 of the top horses in Australia will be recognised for outstanding performances during the 2024/2025 racing season at Racing’s Night of Champions.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 6
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
First Foal for Hilal Delights Grangewilliam Stud
The first foal by Grangewilliam Stud’s Group Two winner and multiple Group One performer Hilal arrived on Thursday morning with a filly born out of the well-related No Nay Never mare La Frox.