Swiss Ace Debut Winner

Media Release - Wednesday July 3

Debbie Sweeney had expected Willit to give a bold account of himself at Rotorua and the three-year-old duly delivered at the first time of asking on Wednesday.

The Te Awamutu trainer had been more than happy with the son of Swiss Ace ahead of his debut in the Macmillan Accountants Maiden (1215m) and he proved comfortably superior to his age group rivals.

Willit winning at Arawa Park on Wednesday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

He is raced by breeder and Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvey, whose colours were also later carried to victory by Murch in the Greenlight Insurance Brokers Maiden (1215m)

Willit had finished runner-up in his first trial on the all-weather track at Cambridge and showed pleasing improvement last month to go one better at Arawa Park before franking that form on race day.

“He trialled well both times, he had been a little bit green but he’s a nice horse who has shown plenty of ability,” Sanders said.

“We were expecting him to go well for sure, his work has been really good.”

Willit had impressed Sweeney during his first preparation and patience has subsequently brought out the best in the gelding.

“He showed a lot the last time around, but he went shine sore, so he had a bit more time out and he came back a stronger horse for it,” she said.

Willit drew the outside barrier at Rotorua and was caught wide early before he slotted in one off the fence in third spot.

He loomed up to challenge three wide at the top of the straight and forged clear under the urgings of rider Matthew Cameron to score by 1-3/4 lengths from Teak, with the debutante Florin making good ground for third after missing the start.

Advertisement

“He got through the ground well and the further he goes the better he should be,” Sweeney said.

“He’s been gelded but he acts like a colt, he’s got a bit of spirit about him and can be a bit quirky at times.

“We’ll see how he pulls up after this and probably find a race for him in a fortnight or three weeks’ time. We’ll look after him and see where we end up.”

Willit is a son of the More Than Ready mare Waterfalls who has a 100 percent record at stud after previous successes of her daughters Tereine and Catalina Bay.

Waterfalls is a sister to the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1615m) from the family of the Gr.1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) winner and sire Catbird.

The Danny Walker and Aaron Tata-trained Murch posted a deserved victory in the closing event after the Telperion three-year-old had placed in three of his previous four starts.

Ridden by apprentice Triston Moodley, he sat close to the pace and finished determinedly to win narrowly in a driving finish.

Murch’s dam is the Encosta De Lago mare Rubi DI Lago who is a half-sister to the Gr.2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) winner and Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) placegetter Divine Calling. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Macmillan Accountants Mdn 1215m

Arawa Park Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:15.28
1
Willit
- 3c Swiss Ace (AUS) x Waterfalls (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Debbie Sweeney Rdr: M Cameron 57.5
2
1.8
Teak
- 3g Time Test (GB) x Astucious (AUS) (Tiger Hill (IRE))
Tnr: Ms K A Hoskin Rdr: W B Kennedy 57.5
3
1.9
Florin
- 3f Vanbrugh (AUS) x Morgan Le Fay (NZ) (Golan (IRE))
Tnr: K T Myers Rdr: W F Pinn 55.5
4
3.2
Finest Hour
- 3f Derryn (AUS) x Gala (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: R R Manning Rdr: Tayla Mitchell 54.5
5
4
Mallow
- 3c Telperion (AUS) x Monolith Miss (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: J C Collett Rdr: J J Fawcett 57.5
6
7.5
Chahoo
- 3g Belardo (IRE) x L'escalier Rose (NZ) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: Darryn & Briar Weatherley Rdr: T C Moodley 55.5
7
8.3
Oban
- 3g Impending (AUS) x Keltara (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Ms K D Nicholson Rdr: K A Myers 57.5
8
9
Aspark Park
- 3c Vanbrugh (AUS) x Pure Savalina (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: C J Henderson Rdr: K R Hercock 57.5
9
9.5
Suited And Booted
- 3g U S Navy Flag (USA) x Fascinator (NZ) (Spinning World (USA))
Tnr: W P Hillis Rdr: S C Spratt 57.5
10
10.4
Tomoe Gozen
- 3f El Roca (AUS) x Caramia (NZ) (Pour Moi (IRE))
Tnr: M G Forbes Rdr: B D Rogerson 53.5
11
13.9
Holy Moly
- 3g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Savodara (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: S Ralph Rdr: J Nishizuka 53.5
More Reading...
G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude Victory To Ferivia
Successful in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes two starts back, the Phillip Stokes trained Ferivia secured victory in the Group 2 MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude, becoming the second Group winner in the last 24 hours for the stable after the success of Snow Mercy overnight in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes.
Proisir 6YO Waitak Captures Another G1
Saturday's Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa took Waitak past the million-dollar barrier and added another triumphant chapter to his unique Group One record.
Waterford Wins G2 Shannon Stakes
Talented import Waterford (IRE) has long promised to win a stakes race and he did the job in spectacular fashion at Rosehill on Saturday when scoring a dominant win in the $300,000 Group II ATC Shannon Stakes (1500m).
Beiwacht Breaks Track Record In G1 Golden Rose Romp
With many of the opinion that Godolphin would provide the winner of this year’s $1m Group 1 ATC Golden Rose (1400m), they were right, but not with the 3yo expected as the Chris Waller trained Bivouac colt Beiwacht was simply sensational in his track record breaking victory.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 27
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Magic Carpet wins G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas - New SW Satono Aladdin
Talented colt Magic Carpet chose the ideal moment to break his maiden status when he produced a dogged effort to claim victory in the Gr.2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400).
Manaal Wins G2 Golden Pendant – Stakes Double Emirates Park
At the official Sydney 2YO trials two years ago in 2023 two fillies impressed in their heat with Gerringong winning and Manaal finishing a close third and the pair filled the quinella in the $400,000 Group II ATC Golden Pendant (1400m ) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Golden Slipper Winner Marhoona Resumes With Heritage Stakes Win
Having not been seen on race day since her success in the Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper (1200m), Champion 2YO Marhoona (Snitzel) put pay to any ‘Golden Slipper hoodoo’ to win the Listed ATC Heritage Stakes (1100m) at her first start at 3.
Kiwi Bred Evaporate Wins G3 Sandown Stakes
Smart four-year-old Evaporate bounced back from a setback to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in gallant fashion, defeating favourite Transatlantic by a nose.
Trapeze Artist Mare Earns Shot at G1 Metrop
The in form Ciaron Maher stable produced the quinella in the$250,000 Group III ATC Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday with race favourite Juja Kibo (GB) beaten by progressive mare Piggyback.