Ten Sovereigns Filly Wins Listed NZB Insurance Stakes

Media Release - Thursday December 26

Progressive filly Pivotal Ten completed an impressive hattrick of victories when she proved too tough on a testing Heavy 10 Wingatui surface to capture the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m).

Ridden by her trainer Samantha Wynne, the daughter of No Nay Never shuttler Ten Sovereigns (IRE) had broken her maiden status on a Slow 7 surface at the venue back in October over 1200m before repeating the dose at Timaru a month later.

Pivotal Ten and Samantha Wynne won the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Boxing Day.  Photo: Race Images South

Given time to get over that run. Wynne presented the filly in superb condition for her biggest test to date and she didn’t disappoint after enjoying a dream run in the trail throughout the slowly run 1400m contest.

Wynne angled Pivotal Ten into the clear at the 300m as she set out after Lil Zena, who had shot through along the inner to take the lead and from there the pair set down to a tooth and nail battle which went in favour of Pivotal Ten by just on three quarters of a length.

Raced by Colin Wightman, who purchased her for $15,000 out of the Valachi Downs dispersal sale draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale in 2022, Pivotal Ten is a half-sister to the stakes placed mare Woodcote Lass and hails from an extended family that includes European Group One winner Maarek.

She is the first Southern Hemisphere bred stakes-winner and the seventh overall for Ten Sovereigns, who has been sold and will stand the 2025 season in Turkey. 

Wightman was impressed by the varied European bloodlines that the late Kevin Hickman had brought to his Valachi Downs breeding operation and was keen to secure the filly.

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“Kevin had some really lovely mares from England and Ireland at Valachi and the pedigree of this filly included a high class sprinter in Maarek who won about seven or eight stakes races including a Group One,” Wightman said.

“The family had plenty of speed in it and Ten Sovereigns was also a speed machine so we expected this filly might get up and run.

“She is still developing and on the up and up, but she is just a super competitor who just wants to go out and win.

“We have spaced her races to give her plenty of time as we think she will be a much better four-year-old but you can’t argue with what she is doing now.

“This win means a lot and I’m thrilled with her as she didn’t really handle the track but it was her toughness that got her home.

“She may have a break now or we will hang around for some of the upcoming stakes races for the three-year-olds down here.”  - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

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Race Result - NZB Insurance Stakes LR 1400m

Wingatui Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:29.74
1
Pivotal Ten
- 3f Ten Sovereigns (IRE) x Lady Woodcote (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: Ms S L Wynne Rdr: S L Wynne 56.5
2
0.8
Lil Zena
- 3f U S Navy Flag (USA) x Zentessa (NZ) (Zed (NZ))
Tnr: Anna Furlong Rdr: A Comignaghi 56.5
3
3.3
Loose Sally
- 3f Turn Me Loose (NZ) x Sally's Mustang (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: S Muniandy Rdr: Ruvanesh Muniandy 56.5
4
4.6
Lady Diva
- 3f Eminent (IRE) x Sav's Diva (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M E Forde Rdr: Abdul Najib 56.5
5
10.6
Star Shadow
- 3f Reliable Man (GB) x Scene Queen (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: A C Goindasamy 56.5
6
10.8
Arctic Ocean
- 3f Ocean Park (NZ) x On Parade (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: M E Forde Rdr: Y Atchamah 56.5
7
11.1
Sight To See
- 3f Time Test (GB) x Perfect Vision (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Kelvin Tyler Rdr: Donovan Cooper 56.5
8
12.4
Sheaintsopeachy
- 3f Rageese (AUS) x Saint Martins (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Krystal Williams Rdr: L Callaway 56.5
9
15.9
Rapid
- 3f Darci Brahma (NZ) x Rivertaine Coup (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: R C Dennis Rdr: K Mudhoo 56.5
10
17.9
Rings Of Satin
- 3f Embellish (NZ) x Satin Slipper (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Anna Furlong Rdr: T R Moseley 56.5
11
21.2
Respectabelle
- 3f Belardo (IRE) x Respect (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: N R Mitchell Rdr: Brandon May 56.5
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