It's Pounamu Again

Mark Smith - Saturday December 23

Pounamu scored a career highlight win when defeating Material Man in the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes on November 25 and the pair were at it again in Saturday's $400,000 Group II Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) at Ascot but the result was the same.

Given an enterprising ride by Lucy Warwick, Material Man took up the running, however, Pat Carbery on Pounamu was never going to let him get too far out of range.

Advertisement

Material Man clung stubbornly to his lead down the straight before succumbing to Pounamu in the closing stages.


Racing in career best form, the 6yo grey son of Authorized (IRE) won by a long-neck from Material Man (Vital Equine) with four lengths back to Zarantz (Choisir) who edged Cosmic Storm for third.

"He raced a little handier than I thought but that was the spot to be, never let them get too far away," winning trainer Alan Mathews said.

"It's a WFA race worth a fair bit of money now. He'll go to the (Perth) Cup but if he wasn't to win you wouldn't be disappointed with his performances this time in.

"He's just got his head around it and is in a good spot."

Banished to Perth after failing to win in 13 starts in Sydney, Pounamu advances his record to 10 wins, 7 seconds and 6 thirds from 38 starts with earnings of $1,364,530.

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.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.