Costae to Run for OTI in G1 NZ 1000 Guineas

Media Release - Thursday November 14

Emerging filly Costae has taken the rarest of avenues to the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, where she will bid to deliver a dream result for a new ownership group.

The daughter of Ribchester successfully progressed through a poly-track path before an impressive last-start victory at Ellerslie to book her place in Saturday’s Barneswood Farm-sponsored Classic.

Costae will line-up in Saturday's Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton Park.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Trained by Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, Costae placed in her first two runs on the Cambridge Synthetic track before she won on the Awapuni all-weather.

“She was purchased by OTI Racing earlier this week after she came on (agent) Phill Cataldo’s radar after her win at Palmerston North and then at Ellerslie,” Ritchie said.

“She will run in OTI’s colours, and it will come down to her performance whether she stays for the Karaka Millions (Listed, 1600m) or transfers to an Australian trainer.

“The original owners, including myself, have kept small shares in her.”

Costae’s road to Riccarton via a predominantly synthetic build-up was largely determined by the weather.

“It’s unusual form for a Group One, apart from her last start, and to be honest I think both Guineas fields may have suffered through wet tracks through the spring,” Ritchie said.

“We weren’t comfortable running her on heavy tracks and we’ve got a poly track in our back yard, so it was easier to run her there.

“The Pearl Series bonus was why she went to Manawatu, and she was quite dominant in that race.

“We didn’t think she was just a poly horse, the way the bonuses set up it was financially more favourable to run her in those races.”

Costae subsequently continued her winning trot on the turf with her last start defeat of a handy age group line-up.

“We were a little bit cocky when we ran her at Ellerslie and felt she would run a much better race than her form lines would suggest and so it happened,” Ritchie said.

Advertisement

“She has come on in leaps and bounds, she’s been interesting and puts herself in the race and she’s drawn a favourable gate (one).

“You’d assume she will get the run of the race with a bit of natural gate speed and if it plays like everybody’s map, she’ll follow the favourite (Alabama Lass) and will get every chance.

“The only problem with barrier one might be a bit of wear and tear on the rail after two days of racing, but in saying that the track has raced terrific.”

The stable will also have a strong chance in Saturday’s northern feature with Pearl Of Alsace in the Gr.2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m).

The Tavistock mare is coming off midfield finishes in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m).

“We informed the stewards that she was served by Proisir two weeks ago and she’s walking around the place like she owns the joint, so hopefully that sort of attitude goes into the race on Saturday,” Ritchie said.

“I thought her last run was really good, she was wide and had to work hard and was in front halfway down the straight, it was better than it reads on paper.”

Pride Of Alsace’s main goal is the TAB Mufhasa Classic (Gr.1, 1600m) at Trentham in three weeks’ time.

“These two races set up nicely for her, this one will top her off, but she is ready to go and we are expecting her to be hard to beat.”

Meanwhile, promising stablemate Tuxedo will also be in action at Trentham on Friday in the JR & N Berkett 3YO (1400m) after making a winning debut at Te Aroha.

“He’s a big strider and needs a long straight, I think he’s a pretty serious horse and will end up a nice stayer in the autumn and is certainly one to watch when he gets up over more ground,” Ritchie said. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Darley Flight Stakes
The prestigious Darley Princess Series reaches its crescendo this week with the 77th running of the $750,000 G1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) over Royal Randwick's famous mile.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.
Who Was Flight?
A G1 race since 1984, the Flight Stakes is a race won by special fillies - often the ones who go on to do extraordinary things on the track against all comers as older mares and that's as it should be as Hall Of Fame legend Flight exemplified that style of thoroughbred.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.