Almanzor 3YO Brisbane Bound

Media Release - Saturday May 11

Wexford Stables’ Queensland contingent will receive some reinforcements in the coming weeks following Geriatrix’s win in the Van Dyk’s 3YO 1400 at Arawa Park on Saturday.

The three-year-old son of Almanzor was on trial to join stablemates Molly Bloom and Tomodachi across the Tasman, and secured his plane ticket with a comfortable 1-3/4 length triumph.

Geriatrix winning at Arawa Park on Saturday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

He was taken back early to settle third last for jockey Sam Spratt, who bided her time before asking her charge to improve four-wide from the 500m mark. Turning for home, Geriatrix only had Fashion Icon and Charmer before him and he comfortably ranged up alongside his rivals, kicking clear in the concluding stages to record his third career victory form nine starts.

Andrew Scott, who trains the colt in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan, was trackside on Saturday to witness the result and was rapt with the outcome.

“She (Spratt) judged it pretty well,” Scott said. “She took off and had to make a run early, exposed him but he sustained a really nice, long gallop there.

“It was just good to see him quickening away because they didn’t go a real gallop and it’s hard to do that here early in the day with not a lot of speed on. It was a good win.”

Spratt was pleased with the result and said she was comfortable throughout, with her charge proving too classy in the end.

“He jumped pretty well but I thought I would pop him in there behind them, I was happy with where we were,” she said. “There wasn’t a huge amount of speed, that is why I didn’t want to get the rail runners away on me too much on the corner, which they can do here. But he cruised into it and kicked away really easy.

Advertisement

“I thought if we was thereabouts on the corner, he would be pretty hard to run down, which he was, and then he kicked away in the last 200m.”

Scott was pleased to see Geriatrix return to winning form, having finished fifth and seventh respectively in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) and Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) in his last two outings.

“He has shown real glimpses of ability from time-to-time,” he said. “We got a foot problem with him over Christmas- New Year and ducked away for about six weeks with him and reset.

“He has had a good autumn, but he has lacked a lot of luck in the Wellington Guineas and then the Breeders’ a fortnight ago, he was getting off the track and not really seeing the race, but his sectionals have been amazing all season. There is a good bit of ability there.”

Geriatrix will now head to Brisbane where Wexford have highlighted the Gr.3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) and Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) as two potential targets next month.

“The team is confident we can take him to Australia,” Scott said. “He would probably need a bit of give over there to bring them back to him a touch so he can really compete, but he is a colt that has handled a long season well, he has got great powers of recovery, and he is a sound colt, so he should go over there and hopefully perform well.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Van Dyks 3yo 1400m

Arawa Park Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:23.28
1
Geriatrix
- 3c Almanzor (FR) x Its Our Showtime (NZ) (Showcasing (GB))
Tnr: L O'sullivan & A Scott Rdr: S C Spratt 58
2
1.8
Charmer
- 3f Charm Spirit (IRE) x Mangaroa Fire (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & Ryan Foote Rdr: T C Moodley 52.5
3
2.2
Fashion Icon
- 3f U S Navy Flag (USA) x Miss Gucci (NZ) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: Peter Didham Rdr: M Hashizume 56.5
4
2.4
Our Absolute
- 3f Niagara (AUS) x Vuela (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: R & R Rogers Rdr: L H Satherley 55
5
2.9
Loch Katrine
- 3f Ardrossan (AUS) x Cong'er (NZ) (Zenno Rob Roy (JPN))
Tnr: S R Autridge Rdr: M J Mc Nab 56
6
3.1
Itza Charmdeel
- 3g Charm Spirit (IRE) x Whatadeel (AUS) (Dundeel (NZ))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: S R Weatherley 58
7
4.3
Whiskey N' Rye
- 3g Derryn (AUS) x Crown Gem (NZ) (Stark South (USA))
Tnr: N P Bishara Rdr: N S Parmar 56
8
6.6
Paragon
- 3g Embellish (NZ) x Love Diamonds (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: C J Grylls 57
9
7.3
Bozo
- 3f Satono Aladdin (JPN) x So Ard (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: K T Myers Rdr: K A Myers 56
More Reading...
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.
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.
More Wins Store for Almanzor 3YO
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott aren’t short of talented three-year-olds in their stable this season, and Geriatrix looks to be another promising type after breaking his maiden impressively at Taupo on Wednesday.  
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Almanzor 3YO Ready for Australian Debut
Andrew Scott is looking forward to escaping the Kiwi weather as he heads across to Queensland on Friday, a day out from Geriatrix’s Australian debut at Eagle Farm.