Oaks Goal for War Decree Filly

Media Release - Tuesday December 31

Ben and Ryan Foote will head to Ellerslie on New Year’s Day with a pair of in-form black-type chances whose longer-term feature race prospects are equally as strong.

The father and son combination will be represented by Myakkabelle in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) and Vega For Luck in the Gr.2 Skycity Eclipse Stakes (1200m).

Myakkabelle will contest the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

War Decree Filly Myakkabelle is a two-time winner who finished a sound third against older opposition two runs back and was luckless when fifth in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

She missed the jump and settled three back on the fence before diving between runners in the straight to be strong to the finish.

“She was very, very good the other day and the step up to 2000m will really suit her down to the ground,” Ryan Foote said.

“The wide draw (11) isn’t ideal, but she seems to have bounced out of that run on Boxing Day very well.”

Foote said it wasn’t always the plan to back up Myakkabelle so soon, but her recovery rate had been excellent.

“She came through the race so well and didn’t get a lot of luck in running so we thought we’d put the nomination in and have a look,” he said.

Thursday’s outing will be another step for Myakkabelle toward her autumn goal of the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham.

“The Oaks is the main one and we’ll pick the right path to it and do the right thing by the filly,” Foote said.

Advertisement

Myakkabelle is a daughter of the imported Lawman mare Myakka Park who is a half-sister to two European stakes winners.

The pedigree has also made its mark here with the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m) and the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) winner Bella Waters whose half-brother Immediacy was successful in last season’s Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m).

Myakkabelle was purchased for $55,000 out of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft of Inglewood Stud, who also bred and sold Vega For Luck for $60,000 at Karaka.

The Lucky Vega colt is guaranteed a start in next month’s $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) following the encouraging start he’s made to his career.

His debut victory at Tauranga has been followed up with third placings at Ellerslie and Pukekohe, most recently in the Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m).

“He hasn’t put a foot wrong since his last run, he’s got a good gate (one) so he should be able to stick to the rail and give them something to chase,” Foote said.

“It’s a chance to give him more experience at Ellerslie and to decide if we do put a set of blinkers on to spark him up for the Karaka Millions.

“He won’t have them on Boxing Day, but we’ve still got them up our sleeve.”

Vega For Luck is the first foal of the winning Darci Brahma mare Badea, a half-sister to the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) winner Lilikoi. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Crossbow Takes Aim At Flemington To Score
With quality efforts behind handy horses in his first three starts, trainer Chris Waller crossed the border to Victoria with instant success for the Star Thoroughbreds raced Crossbow, with the well-marked son of Better Than Ready breaking through for an impressive win.
Kosciuszko calling Rosehill winner Elson Boy
Dubbo-trained Elson Boy was back in the winner’s circle after a 412-day absence when leading throughout to land the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill in the hands of apprentice William Stanley.
Winning Hat-Trick for Progressive Pierro
Richard and Will Freedman probably have more talented horses in the stable than Pierro gelding Cold Brew, but few have the consistency of this four year-old who landed a winning hat-trick at Rosehill on Saturday.
Sliding Doors Moment Delivers Feel Good Winner at Rosehill
Two fillies were born at Yulong in 2021 sired by Alabama Express from imported North American daughters of Street Cry, one of them is triple Group I winner Treasurethe Moment and the other is the feel good winner of the day at Rosehill on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 2
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Bred Keeps Winners Coming for Payne Stable
The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Bold Soul has been a consistent performer right through the winter months and notched another win at Flemington when prevailing in the VRC Membership Renewals Open (2530m) on Saturday.
Unique Filly a History Maker for Godolphin and Waller
The re-distribution of the Godolphin owned Australian racehorses has been a hot topic in recent weeks as they departed the care of James Cummings to join a wide spread of different trainers and one of those was Chris Waller, whose first runner for the blue army was a winner at Rosehill on Saturday.
King of Roseau Wins G3 Aurie’s Star
Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Dual Group Winner Too Darn Good At Flemington
A dual group winner during the Spring of her 3yo season, talented mare Too Darn Discreet showed an electric turn of foot, charging home over the top of them to win the Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The Novelist Returns to Form
The very first stakes-winner for his sire Written By when winning the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes in December 2022, The Novelist made light of the heavy 10 track at Rosehill on Saturday to claim another victory.