El Roca Sprinter Impresses First Up

Media Release - Sunday September 8

Progressive sprinter Navigator produced one of the standout performances of the meeting at Hastings on Saturday, continuing his formidable fresh-up record in the Vet Services Equine Hawke’s Bay Premier (1200m).

Navigator winning the Vet Services Equine Hawke’s Bay Premier (1200m) at Hastings on Saturday.   Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Navigator has been carefully placed throughout his light racing career by trainer Cody Cole and his record is a reflection of this, with the five-year-old never finishing further back then fourth in nine previous starts.

Cole targeted the final meeting at the Hawke’s Bay carnival last year with the five-year-old and was duly rewarded with a lucrative Rating 65 success over the same distance, and a plan to enter the opening day this season with no trials under his belt was executed to the letter.

Combining with Ryan Elliot, Navigator showed strong gate speed and utilised this when settling three-back on the fence, with speedy mare Merchant Queen circling the field to take up the pace making role.

Travelling powerfully into the home bend, Elliot eased the big-striding gelding off the rail and he bounded to the lead at the 250m, and his rivals were no match as he eased to the line by 1 ¾ lengths. Acquarello made a lovely return flashing into second, with Merchant Queen hanging on gamely for third. 

Matamata-based Cole was thrilled to see the son of El Roca firing on all cylinders as he enters another campaign.

“He’s a good horse fresh, we didn’t trial him with the heavy tracks around and although he can cop a heavy surface, I didn’t think we needed too,” he said.

“We took him to Taupo for an outing, the Taupo Racing Club are very accommodating letting us do that, and he worked super down there last week.

“We couldn’t have been any happier with him leading into this race, he’s got a bright future and he’s probably pretty untapped too.

“He’s been loafing around and waiting for them half his life, but the penny is starting to drop now.”

Navigator has made a habit of picking up Premier victories on the undercard with his most-recent success coming at Trentham on Manawatu Sires’ Day, but Cole indicated he will get his opportunity in the spotlight come October 12 back at the Bay.

“We targeted the Spring Sprint (Gr.3, 1400m) after his win at Wellington so we worked back from there. We wanted to kick off on the first day and then come back on the last day over 1400,” he said.

Advertisement

“He travelled a bit fiercely today so we may reassess that, but I think second-up it may take that freshness out of him.

“He’ll get in at a nice light weight so it would be a nice option for him going forward.

“Beyond that, I think with the blinkers off, he’d definitely run a mile, but we put them on to get him on the job because when he won here fresh last year, he was looking at everything and waiting for everyone and you can’t win good races like that.

“He’s figuring the game out and the mile is not beyond him, but he’s going to tell us where he wants to go through the season.”

Bred by part-owner Marriott Thoroughbreds, Navigator was purchased by Cole for $110,000 out of Westbury Stud’s draft at the 2021 Karaka Yearling Sales, and has won four of his ten starts and over $150,000 in stakes.

He was the final foal out of three-win Stravinsky mare Joiya, who has produced a number of talented progeny including Group One placegetters Bella Mente and Bella Gioia, Listed winner Niki Piki Milo and Listed performer The Dom.

Cole was also pleased with the efforts of his three-year-old filly Renovations, who closed well into fourth in a competitive Gr.3 HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), taken out by Alabama Lass.

“I was really happy with her, she missed the run at Taupo where she was meant to kick off and it’s been a long time since she trialled,” he said.

“She’ll improve a lot from that, she probably just struggled to quicken with them but her work through the line was encouraging and I think 1400-1600 is more suited to her now she is a three-year-old.

“The way she raced today, I think that would be her go if she can put herself on-speed over 1400, and I think we will see a better version of her again.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Vet Services Equine Hawke's Bay (Bm75) 1200m

Hastings Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.85
1
Navigator
- 5g El Roca (AUS) x Joiya (AUS) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: C W Cole Rdr: R T Elliot 58.5
NZB Karaka Book 1 $110,000
Seller: Westbury Stud
Buyer: Mr C Cole
2
1.8
Acquarello
- 5m Written Tycoon (AUS) x River Pebbles (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: V A Colgan 54.5
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $400,000
Seller: Sledmere Stud, Scone
Buyer: Andrew Williams Bloodstock
3
2.8
Merchant Queen
- 4m Merchant Navy (AUS) x O'reilly Cyrus (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: C J Grylls 56
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $180,000
Seller: Ridgmont Farm, Segenhoe
Buyer: Stephen Marsh Racing
4
3.8
Nepheti
- 4m Charm Spirit (IRE) x Nymph (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: S R Weatherley 56
5
4.2
You Say D'Orsay
- 4g Under The Louvre (AUS) x Black Zero (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: C J Wood Rdr: Joe Doyle 56.5
6
4.4
Cornelia
- 4m Swiss Ace (AUS) x Stratosphere (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: S & K Alexander Rdr: S C Spratt 54.5
7
4.5
Candle
- 6m Super Easy (NZ) x Flare (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: Guy Lowry & Leah Zydenbos Rdr: L Sutherland 56.5
8
5.8
Wild West
- 8g Atlante (AUS) x Bliss (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: Ms D Guy Rdr: M Hashizume 57
9
5.9
Marotiri Molly
- 6m Per Incanto (USA) x Marotiri Miss (NZ) (Al Akbar (AUS))
Tnr: M T Dixon Rdr: K R Hercock 55
10
6.3
Duneagle
- 8g Dissident (AUS) x Certitude (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Ms S Gordon Rdr: C Dell 58.5
11
7.3
Bee Enchanted
- 6g Per Incanto (USA) x The Beeliner (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: Elle Sole 54
12
7.6
Chantilly Lace
- 4m U S Navy Flag (USA) x On The Move (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: W B Kennedy 55.5
13
8.1
The Stoney One
- 6g Pierro (AUS) x Western Gem (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: Guy Lowry & Leah Zydenbos Rdr: Liam Kauri 56.5
14
10.9
Farravallo
- 4g Belardo (IRE) x Manurewa (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: R J Bergerson Rdr: K L Chung 55.5
15
15.7
Papa Surf
- 5g Dalghar (FR) x Surf Patrol (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: M P Breslin Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 56.5
16
30.7
Havarti
- 5g Swiss Ace (AUS) x Lotta Luv (NZ) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: Peter Didham Rdr: K Chowdhoory 58
More Reading...
Widden Stud Sell Climbing Star for $2.1million
Group I winning Zoustar mare Climbing Star started life at Widden Stud as did $5.25million mare Zougotcha and now they will find themselves back together in the paddock at Coolmore after Tom Magnier purchased both of them at the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday.
First Australian Winner For Ghaiyyath
While four-time Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) isn’t shuttling to Australia this season after four successive years where he covered 377 mares, supporters of the stallion will be pleased to see that he's recorded his first Australian winner on Tuesday - and it was an impressive one.
Alsephina $1.1million and Amazonian Lass $1million
They followed each other through the sale ring at the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday with Alsephina selling for $1.1million to Katsumi Yoshida followed by Amazonian Lass for $1million to Nocab Racing Pty Ltd/Kestrel Thoroughbreds.
Blue Gum Farm Announce 2025 Fees
Leading Victorian stud, Blue Gum Farm, is pleased to announce its 2025 stallion roster and service fees, headlined by exciting young sire Sejardan, who will stand at an unchanged fee of $13,750.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 27
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
14 Mares Sell for $1million or More - $5.25m Zougotcha the Star
Triple Group One winner Zougotcha became the most expensive horse sold at auction in the Southern Hemisphere this year when she realised $5.25 million at today's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Widden Purchase MM 2YO Classic Winner for $1.35million
Widden Stud were active at the top end as a vendor at the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday and also as a buyer securing Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Skirt the Law for $1.35million.
US Group I Winner for Zoustar
On a day when Widden Stud’s Zoustar produced the $5.25million top seller Zougotcha at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale he also sired a new Group I winner in North America where King of Gosford won the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile (1m) at Santa Anita.
$5.25million Zougotcha - Waller Stars Set Sale Ring Alight
Chris Waller Racing consigned two of the stable’s superstar older mares to the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday with Zougotcha (Zoustar) selling for $5.25million and Atishu (Savabeel) for $2.7million.
James Harron Buys Lady Laguna for $2.5million
Astute bloodstock agent James Harron is no stranger to success at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale having purchased elite $6million earning Group I sprinter Sunshine in Paris at the Gold Coast for $3.9million in 2023.