So Naive Wins G3 Northland Breeders Stakes

Media Release - Saturday August 17

The Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley training partnership had plenty to celebrate on Saturday when they produced a superb quinella in the feature event at Ruakaka, the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), with stable runners So Naive and Toruk Makto.

So Naive winning the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka on Saturday.  Photo: Therese Davis

So Naive, a stunning son of The Oaks Stud resident stallion U S Navy Flag, had won twice from four starts during his two-year-old campaign and was fitted for his new season resumption with a comfortable win at the Cambridge trials last month.

Rider Craig Grylls sent him forward from barrier rise but found himself out three wide as pacemakers I’m All In, racing in the colours of race sponsor Cambridge Stud, and Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) placegetter Full Force setting a steady speed in front.

Grylls didn’t panic and had his mount relaxed rounding the home bend as the pressure went on. I’m All In kicked hard at the 200m but so did So Naive as he hit the front shortly afterwards before holding out a late charge from Toruk Makto who closed to within a length with an eye-catching burst from well back in the running.

It was the second time the pair have provided the quinella in a race after they finished in the same order over 1100m at Ellerslie in October last year, with Cooksley delighted with both horses.

“He (So Naive) has grown and got a bit stronger, so the further he goes the better he will get,” Cooksley said.

“Give him another six months and he will be even bigger and stronger but so will the second horse who went good as well.

“It’s good to see the two-year-olds come back well as three-year-olds, so hopefully they can keep going.

Advertisement

“I’m not sure where we will see them next but we will work it out.”

Grylls was also suitably impressed with the victory.

“We were drawn towards the outside and with the inside getting a bit cut up now I was happy to stay out three-wide on the train,” he said.

“I was just keeping out of the kick back as a couple I had ridden earlier had responded badly to it. I was quite happy out there as he is a beautiful big horse and I was pretty confident a wee way out we would pick them up as he let down well.

“He wasn’t real comfortable in it (the wet track) but he showed last season he has a good turn of foot and I think they are going to be in for a lot of fun with him.”

Bred by Dr K C Tan, So Naïve is raced by Able International, a long-term client for the stable after being purchased out of Kilgravin Lodge’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft by Wallace Thoroughbreds for $37,500.

He has now won three of his five starts and $133,000 in prizemoney. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders Stakes Gr3 1200m

Ruakaka Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:12.73
1
So Naive
- 3c U S Navy Flag (USA) x Altai Rose (NZ) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: C J Grylls 57
2
1.3
Toruk Makto
- 3c Eminent (IRE) x Showmuchfun (NZ) (Bachelor Duke (USA))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: K A Myers 57
3
1.8
I'm All In
- 3c Zoustar (AUS) x Fuld's Bet (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S C Spratt 57
Zoustar
4
3.8
Vegas Queen
- 3f Proisir (AUS) x Miss Vegas (NZ) (Carlton House (USA))
Tnr: K I Rae Rdr: J J Fawcett 55
5
4.1
Kitty Flash
- 3f Ace High (AUS) x Electrode (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: Joe Doyle 55
6
7.1
Full Force
- 3g Cosmic Force (AUS) x Jawhara (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Hollie Wynyard Rdr: R T Elliot 57
7
13.5
Chicago Jack
- 3c All Too Hard (AUS) x Sawn Off Shotgun (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: S D Cole Rdr: T C Moodley 57
8
32.2
Maracatu
- 3g Ardrossan (AUS) x Cortado (NZ) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: W B Kennedy 57
More Reading...
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Well Bred Zousain Debut Winner
A full sister to Zousain’s Group III winning filly Drifting, Cheeky Contiki made a winning debut at Pakenham on Monday for the Lindsay Park Racing team.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?