Wolfgang Wins G3 Wellington Cup

Media Release - Saturday January 18

A long wait for Wolfgang’s day in the big-race spotlight came to a spectacular end at Trentham on Saturday when he overpowered his opposition in the Gr.3 NZCIS Wellington Cup (3200m).

Wolfgang powers to a career-best win in the NZCIS Wellington Cup at Trentham. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

The time-honoured $400,000 feature was the 13th appearance at Group or Listed level for Wolfgang, who had shown bright promise at that level ever since his two-year-old days. He finished fifth in that season’s Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m), second in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m), third in the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m), sixth in the Gr.3 Waikato Stud Matamata Slipper (1200m) and 10th in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

After a seventh in the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) in the early stages of his three-year-old season in September 2021, Wolfgang’s connections opted to play the long game. The Puccini gelding spent more than three years away from black-type company before returning there on both sides of the Tasman during his coming-of-age campaign as a six-year-old this season.

Wolfgang kicked off the spring with back-to-back wins in open handicaps at Hastings and Matamata in September and October. He then ventured across the Tasman and showed he belonged on the big stage with a gallant sixth in the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield and a fourth in the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m).

He returned home and continued to perform at a high level, running second in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) and Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m). Wolfgang produced sub-par performances when unplaced in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) and this month’s Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie, but he carried on towards Trentham for Saturday’s career-defining win.

Patiently ridden by Joe Doyle, Wolfgang settled fourth-last as fellow Matamata raider Arby led the field around a circuit of the Trentham track at barely more than a canter.

Arby began to up the ante turning out of the back straight, with Wolfgang still languishing more than a dozen lengths behind him and facing an increasingly daunting task.

But Doyle brought Wolfgang to the outside at the home turn and turned him loose down the roomy Trentham straight. Wolfgang quickly came with giant strides out wide on the track, powering to the lead with 200m remaining and pulling away to win by a length and a half. Crouch and Nest Egg collected the minor placings just ahead of the fourth-placed Trav, who himself produced an eye-catching finish from last.

Wolfgang was bred by Mapperley Stud, who offered him in Book 1 of Karaka 2020 and failed to meet his $50,000 reserve. Mapperley principal Simms Davison retained him to race alongside Kim and Peter McKay, who won the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) with Wolfgang’s sire Puccini.

From 42 starts, Wolfgang has now had seven wins and 10 placings, earning $550,917 in stakes.

Advertisement

Peter McKay trains Wolfgang in partnership with his son, former jockey Shaun.

“This is unreal, I had a little tear there,” Shaun McKay said. “I was never able to ride a 3200m winner in my career, but it’s special to be lucky enough to train one today with Dad.

“Mum and Dad had the stallion too and had some great success with him, so that just makes it even better.

“He just showed today that he’s a really tough horse. We tried to get a Group win with him as a two-year-old and kept going close with placings. We had to be patient, and now he just keeps getting better and better as a six-year-old. I think he’ll be even better in six months’ time.

“Hopefully we can get him back to Aussie next season and pick up a good win there. You never know how a horse is going to go over the 3200m until you try, but the way he really flew home over that distance today gives us a bit of confidence. It would be amazing to get him to the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m).”

The first stakes-winner for his sire Puccini, Wolfgang became the second Wellington Cup winner for Doyle, who won the race with Leaderboard in 2023.

“It’s fantastic,” Doyle said. “I’m lucky enough to have won the race twice now, and Mum and Dad are here today all the way from Ireland. So it’s a brilliant thrill to win a race like this in front of them.

“The McKays are absolute masterminds. His run at Ellerslie last time, you’d think it was average, but they really believed he was in great form coming into today. When I pushed the button in the straight, he just ran past them.

“It’s fantastic for the McKays. They’re only a small stable but they do fantastic work and deserve results like this.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup Gr3 3200m

Trentham Track: Good(4) Time: 3:20.68
1
Wolfgang
- 6g Puccini (NZ) x Navy Beach (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun Mckay Rdr: Joe Doyle 55
2
1.5
Crouch
- 5g Tarzino (NZ) x Oya (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: M P Breslin Rdr: A Comignaghi 53
NZB Karaka Book 2 $20,000
Seller: Mapperley Stud Ltd
Buyer: Mr MP Breslin
3
2
Nest Egg
- 6g Reliable Man (GB) x Run To The Bank (NZ) (Bahhare (USA))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: W B Kennedy 53
4
2.5
Trav
- 5g Almanzor (FR) x Royal Sav (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: R M Connors Rdr: L Sutherland 53
5
5
Beavertown Boy
- 8g Shocking (AUS) x Nightingale Island (NZ) (Viking Ruler (AUS))
Tnr: A M Bull Rdr: K A Myers 53.5
6
5.1
Arby
- 5g Proisir (AUS) x Reiveke (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Darryn & Briar Weatherley Rdr: J J Fawcett 53
7
5.2
Interpretation
- 7g Galileo (IRE) x Daldiyna (FR) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: L Currie 59
8
5.3
Testify Me
- 7g Atlante (AUS) x Cherry Bomb (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Ms J Millar Rdr: C Dell 53
9
6.8
Celtic Echo
- 5m Echoes Of Heaven (AUS) x Celtic Lass (NZ) (Fully Fledged (NZ))
Tnr: Ms J A Zuppicich Rdr: K R Hercock 53
10
7.1
Nereus
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Eudora (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: M J Mc Nab 56.5
11
7.9
Ess Vee Are
- 6g Shocking (AUS) x Reiveke (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Darryn & Briar Weatherley Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 53
12
9.1
Inmyshadow
- 8g Ferlax (NZ) x Regarded (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: A J Meadows Rdr: M K Hudson 53
13
10.3
Zackery
- 6g Zacinto (GB) x Variation (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: M N Eales Rdr: C R Barnes 53
14
11.2
Apache Anne
- 6m Tavistock (NZ) x La Sizeranne (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: Ms K A Hoskin Rdr: G Rooke 53
More Reading...
Justify Strikes at Newmarket with New G3 Winner
The Group III Bahrain Trophy Stakes ((1m5f) at Newmarket overnight produced a runaway winner in Scandinavia and while his sire Justify no longer shuttles to Australia, two of his sons will be on the roster at Coolmore this spring in City of Troy (IRE) and Storm Boy.
One to Watch – Gosford
Capitalist had a double of debut winning two year-olds at Gosford on Thursday both prepared by Peter Snowden and while the expensive colt Caesar got the job done, it was the filly that really had people talking.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
Wathnan Racing Swoop - Quai de Bethune Eclipses July Sale Record 775,000 Guineas
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded in spectacular fashion with QUAI DE BETHUNE selling for a record 775,000 guineas and the Busuttin Young stable also picked up lightly raced 3YO TIME ALLOWED for Australia.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Spring racing is just around the corner and a busy set of trials at Randwick on Friday featured eight heats won by juveniles with winners including stakes horses The Playwright and Cobra Club as well as unraced youngsters by Justify (USA), I Am Invincible and Flying Artie.
Bred to be Good - So You Think x More Joyous
It sounds like a match made in heaven, a colt by two time Cox Plate winning sire So You Think from eight time Group I winner More Joyous, and this 2YO is slated to make his debut in New Zealand this weekend,  
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 10
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bred to Be Better at Three
Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).
Melbourne Racing Club Unveils Major Spring Racing Enhancements
Racing Victoria has confirmed prize money allocations for the 2025-2026 season and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced some exciting race program changes and prizemoney increases that, together with other great initiatives at Flemington and Moonee Valley, reinforce the position of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival at the forefront of international racing.