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...
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
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.