Progressive Mare heads Kiwi-bred trifecta on Oaks Day

Media Release - Thursday November 7

New Zealand-breds finished first, second and third in the A$150,000 Good Friday Appeal Trophy (2000m) on the Crown Oaks undercard at Flemington on Thursday, headed by a lightly raced mare whose star is on the rise.

Alma Rise Claims Victory in the A$150,000 Good Friday Appeal Trophy (2000m) Photo Bruno Cannatelli

The aptly named Alma Rise(NZ) (Almanzor) recorded her third win from only a six-start career in Thursday’s Benchmark 80 handicap. The Almanzor mare has placed in all of the other three, including a runner-up finish in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) in April, and has now earned A$203,125 in stakes.

Alma Rise was sent out as favourite on Thursday on the strength of her last-start success at Moe in mid-October, but the four-year-old’s prospects looked less rosy when she was trapped behind a wall of horses at the top of the straight.

Jockey Luke Nolen eventually found a way through with around 250m remaining and Alma Rise took care of the rest, pulling clear to win by two and a quarter lengths from fellow Kiwi-breds Le Zeba and Flamin’ Romans.

“I was just glad they stayed on their feet,” said Katherine Coleman, who trains in partnership with Peter Moody. “It got pretty tight, but Luke is very competitive and this is a very good mare.

“She’s really classy. She’s been a bit immature, both physically and mentally, so we’ve taken our time with her. We’ll see how she comes through this one and then take it step by step, but she is a really exciting horse to have in the stable.”

Nolen now boasts a perfect two-from-two record on Alma Rise, having ridden her for the first time at Moe last month.

Advertisement

“I had to fold the mirrors back today and slide through,” he said. “I had a lap full of horse and we got through them pretty well. She won convincingly in the end.

“She wasn’t that impressive or dynamic at Moe last start. She probably should’ve run last. She came off the bridle and was floundering in the wet going. She was far more effective on top of the ground today and is a mare with nice scope. She’ll be better even further out in trip. She’s a stayer with nice class.

“An inexperienced horse in the wide open spaces here at Flemington is pretty daunting. While she put a gap on them, I think she could be more brilliant with the benefit of experience.

“Off-season stakes races are probably the next port of call, and next year she’ll be in the thick of it.”

Bred by Ed Calvert and raced with his family, Alma Rise is a daughter of the Bertolini mare Fashion Black, who won six races.

Fashion Black is a half-sister to the dual Group One winner and sire Xtravagant, whose brother He’s Remarkable won at Group Three level and was Group One-placed on both sides of the Tasman. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - Good Friday Appeal Trophy (Bm80) 2000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 2:03.02
1
Alma Rise
- 4m Almanzor (FR) x Fashion Black (NZ) (Bertolini (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: L Nolen 55.5
2
2.3
Le Zebra
- 4g Rip Van Winkle (IRE) x Angel Del Dinero (NZ) (My Halo (ARG))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: Damian Lane 60
3
2.7
Flamin' Romans
- 5g Ghibellines (AUS) x Inferno (NZ) (Yamanin Vital (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: John Allen 60.5
4
3
Nearing Liberty
- 4g Impending (AUS) x Freedom Road (AUS) (Good Journey (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Brown Rdr: B Melham 56
5
3.8
Duke Of Condicote
- 8g No Nay Never (USA) x Duchess Of Gazeley (IRE) (Halling (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Declan Bates 59
6
4.2
Motorace
- 4g Denman (AUS) x Teneales Pearl (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Hickmott Rdr: Todd Pannell 59.5
7
4.5
Dublin Journal
- 7g Teofilo (IRE) x Ceist Eile (IRE) (Noverre (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M Zahra 60
8
5.8
Autumn Storm
- 4g The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Tap This (AUS) (Tapit (USA))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
9
6
Matriarch Rose
- 5m Epaulette (AUS) x Antonia (AUS) (Lope De Vega (IRE))
Tnr: Dan O'Sullivan Rdr: J Mott 57.5
10
8
Verifier
- 5g Tivaci (AUS) x Checkout (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: N A Blackiston Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56.5
11
8
Bulawayo
- 4g Fiorente (IRE) x Sense In The City (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: Pat Carey & Harris Walker Rdr: Celine Gaudray 54
12
9.5
The Gadget Man
- 6g Jack Hobbs (GB) x Kallisha (GB) (Whipper (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Moreira 58
13
10
Heavenly Eagle
- 6g Echoes Of Heaven (AUS) x Kings Daughter (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: S V Brown Rdr: Craig Williams 55.5
14
10.2
Karburan
- 5g Zarak (FR) x Lilly Du Havre (FR) (Le Havre (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: L Currie 58
15
14.2
Soul Choice
- 5m Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Thislilsoulofmine (CAN) (Perfect Soul (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 59.5
16
26.2
Sunsource
- 4g Zoustar (AUS) x Patricia Dawn (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: N Rawiller 59
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
G1 Plan for Kiwi Sprinter Niance
Six-year-old mare Niance will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week.
Breeding to Win - 2025 G1 Memsie Stakes
The big guns step out and spring is on in earnest when the Memsie (1400m WFA) rolls around and what a cracking field we have in 2025 for the first G1 of the Southern spring with 11 runners and 10 are G1 winners!
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
Via Sistina Honoured at NSW Horse of the Year
One of the greatest seasons of all time has secured Via Sistina the TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year award. The Chris Waller-trained mare was recognised at Racing’s Night of Champions for her outstanding performance in 2024/2025 which included equalling Winx’s record of seven Group 1s in a single season.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Melbourne Cup Dreaming for Kiwi Stayer
Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.
Damask Rose Looking to Kickstart Te Akau Melbourne Spring
Te Akau Racing are building a strong record in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), and they will look to continue that at Caulfield on Saturday when Damask Rose takes her place in this year’s edition.