Best Kiwi maiden Now a Winner!

Media Release - Wednesday October 2

Group One performer To Catch A Thief is a maiden no longer after taking out the Betta Inspect It Premier (1300m) at Matamata on Wednesday.

The four-year-old gelding was having his first start for Joanne Surgenor, having previously been trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, for whom he placed in 10 of his 14 starts for the Matamata conditioners.

To Catch A Thief winning the Betta Inspect It Premier (1300m) at Matamata on Wednesday.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The son of U S Navy Flag was a standout juvenile, running third in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m). He returned as a three-year-old where he posted the same result in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m), but he was unable to breakthrough for a maiden win.

He joined Surgenor’s Ardmore stable ahead of his four-year-old season and he has done nothing but impress the South Auckland horsewoman, who was hopeful of a positive result on Wednesday.

In the hands of leading hoop Opie Bosson, To Catch A Thief jumped well from barrier eight and was pushed forward and assumed the lead at the 1000m mark. It didn’t look like it would be his day once more when he was headed by Richard And I when turning for home, but he dug deep and recaptured the lead, running on to win by half a length over the Andrew Forsman-trained runner.

Surgenor was rapt to get the result for his ownership group, which includes Ashford Lodge’s Peter and Sherin Walker, whose silks are carried by the gelding.

“It is just a relief,” Surgenor said. “He has cracked his maiden finally and we are on the road.

Advertisement

“I was a little bit nervous (when he was headed at the top of the straight), but I thought it was his day to get in and have a fight and he did, he dug in. It was a beautiful ride by Opie as always.

“I am grateful for the owners to have an opportunity with such a lovely horse.”

Feature targets now await To Catch A Thief, with Surgenor’s ultimate aim being the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night in January.

“I am thinking the Karaka four-year-old,” she said.

“I was just waiting to see what happened today, how we went, and how he was. Now I can sit down and start mapping out a plan to hopefully get there.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Betta Inspect It Spec Mdn 1300m

Matamata Track: Good(4) Time: 1:17.28
1
To Catch A Thief
- 4g U S Navy Flag (USA) x Stolen Gem (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Ms J Surgenor Rdr: O P Bosson 57
NZB Karaka Book 1 $160,000
Seller: Woburn Farm
Buyer: Stuart Hale & Co (BAFNZ)
2
0.5
Richard And I
- 3g Ocean Park (NZ) x Untamed Diamond (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 55.5
NZB Karaka Book 1 $70,000
Seller: Cambridge Stud
Buyer: Bevan Smith Bloodstock
3
1.5
Acapelago
- 3f Belardo (IRE) x Acapela (NZ) (Elusive City (USA))
Tnr: S & K Alexander Rdr: D A Mansour 54
4
2.3
Entitlement
- 4m Shooting To Win (AUS) x Patient (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Maxim & Samantha Van Lierde Rdr: W B Kennedy 55
5
3.3
Evelyn Rush
- 4m Derryn (AUS) x Peace (NZ) (Ishiguru (USA))
Tnr: C W Cole Rdr: S R Weatherley 56
6
3.4
Sasperella
- 4m Ocean Park (NZ) x Showing Off (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Ms D Guy Rdr: M Hashizume 55
7
3.7
Rocky Marciano
- 3c Eminent (IRE) x Shikoba (NZ) (Chief Bearhart (CAN))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun Mckay Rdr: S C Spratt 54.5
8
3.8
Suited And Booted
- 4g U S Navy Flag (USA) x Fascinator (NZ) (Spinning World (USA))
Tnr: W P Hillis Rdr: Joe Doyle 57
9
4.9
Belles Fate
- 5m Iffraaj (GB) x Belles Fast (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Robbie Patterson Rdr: C J Grylls 57
10
5
Geetee Forty
- 5g Sebring (AUS) x Oh Miss Scarlett (AUS) (All Too Hard (AUS))
Tnr: Ms C Cameron Rdr: J J Fawcett 57
11
5.7
Speed Dial
- 4m Time Test (GB) x Queen Alley (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: Guy Lowry & Leah Zydenbos Rdr: L Sutherland 54
12
7.2
Ramblin' Rose
- 4m Complacent (AUS) x Our Prized Rose (NZ) (Prized (USA))
Tnr: D B Hollinshead Rdr: K A Myers 55
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
G1 Winning Champion 2YO Velocious to be Offered on Inglis Digital
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) will be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale.
Sires’ Produce Goal for To Catch A Thief
Matamata trainer Graham Richardson has an eye on New Zealand’s longest juvenile Group One race as he prepares To Catch A Thief to resume racing at his home track this weekend.
Winning Hat Trick for So You Think Filly
So You Think has ticked over $12million in seasonal earnings with 150 plus winners including seven stakes-winners and while Covert Thinking is not among the luminaries by her sire, this tenacious 3YO has won three on the trot and landed her first metro victory on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 2
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Lisa Kennedy Recognized for Thoroughbred Welfare
Lisa Kennedy has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, and her efforts in guiding retired racehorses into new careers through EventStars were celebrated at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards last Sunday as the winner of the Care and Welfare Excellence Award.
Sword Poised to Strike
When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.