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...
Group 1 Queensland Oaks For So You Think's You Wahng
With form around some of the best 3yo staying fillies in the country, the Kris Lees trained You Wahng was too strong, winning the $700,000 Group 1 BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.
Bold Maison Louis Resolute In Queensland Derby
The training partnership of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton continues to flourish as evidenced by a stable quinella in Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) as Maison Louis defeated King Of Thunder in a perfect result for the Sydney trainers.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 7
Here is the full list of 123 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cosmic Fire a New SW for Cosmic Force
Sunshine Coast trainer Billy Healey was thrilled to have a stakes-winner on a big carnival day at Eagle Farm with his talented Cosmic Force three year-old gelding Cosmic Fire soaring to new heights when taking out the $200,000 Listed BRC Queensland Day Stakes (1200m).
First Stakes Success For Zoustar’s Zaszou
Becoming the second stakes winner of the meeting for Widden Stud’s Zoustar, the Philip Stokes trained Zaszou captured the $160,000 Listed BRC Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) in a photo finish.
New Stakes-Winner for Snitzel – Stradbroke Possible
The Listed $160,000 BRC Spear Chief Quality (1500m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday delivered a new stakes-winner for champion sire Snitzel with progressive four year-old gelding Transatlantic taking victory as a well backed favourite.
Third Group 1 Victory For Zoustar’s Sensational Joliestar
Cambridge Stud's outstanding Zoustar mare Joliestar was simply sensational, charging late to win the $1m BRC Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm, her third Group 1 victory.
Capitalist Colt Records Back To Back Wins
Off the back of an explosive victory last time out at Hawkesbury when breaking his maiden by just shy of four lengths, Nathan Doyle’s Hidden Motive (Capitalist) justifiably jumped the short-priced favourite in the $160,000 Precise Air Handicap (1100m) at Randwick.
Third Generation Epsom Derby Hero for Coolmore
The Group I Epsom Derby (1m4f) was the big highlight overnight in the UK and the scratching of Godolphin owned favourite Ruling Court due to track condition meant it was an open affair with the second string horse from Ballydoyle in Lambourn coming up trumps and also bringing joy for the Aussie offshoot of his family.
First Group Victory For $3.5m Earner Front Page
Having raced at Flemington, Rosehill and Ascot at his last three starts, the Matthew Dale trained Front Page travelled to his fourth different state in as many starts, winning the $300,000 G2 BRC Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm.