Hinekaha All Class in Oaks Prelude

Breednet - Saturday February 1

Highly touted three-year-old Hinekaha justified some heavy support from punters as she showed her enormous promise in the Listed Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth on Saturday.

Hinekaha scores a stylish black-type win in the Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude. Photo: Megan Liefting (Race Images)

The Andrew Forsman-prepared filly has been identified as a stayer of real potential by a number of pundits and is the $5 Fixed Odds second favourite for the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on 8 March behind Willydoit ($2). She also fills the same position in the Fixed Odds market for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham at a $4 quote behind current favourite Leica Lucy ($3.20).

With Willydoit reinforcing his Derby credentials with a three-length romp in Rating 75 company over 1600m less than ten minutes before Hinekaha stepped out, the daughter of Savabeel lost nothing in comparison as she came out of the trail to hunt down pacemaker Eye Candy in the home straight for a comfortable victory by half a length in the hands of Craig Grylls.

Grylls admitted he had a few concerns before securing his home straight passage on the filly.

“They didn’t go real hard as I thought they would, but that might have been the lack of numbers in the field,” Grylls said.

“It had me sweating on a run for a while but I could see when we straightened up that the horse outside the leader was starting drop off so I just had to wait for that to happen. When I angled one-off, she did it pretty easily after that.

“She has a lot of class and it is very exciting to be on a filly of this quality. She has the best attitude and when we were coming back I couldn’t even get her to trot. She was just walking along and taking it all in.

Advertisement

“She just has that lovely, relaxed demeanour about her.”

While entered for both three-year-old blue riband staying events, trainer Andrew Forsman indicated during the week that his preference is for his charge to contest the New Zealand Derby.

Bred by co-owner Christoper Grace, Hinekaha is the first foal out of the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) winner Hinerangi.

She becomes the 146th individual stakes winner for her illustrious sire Savabeel. The champion stallion was to the fore again at the 2025 National Yearling Sale at Karaka, where 35 of his 42 Book 1 yearlings sold at an average of $287,143, including the sale-topping sister of multiple Group One winner Orchestral that was knocked down to the $2.4 million bid of bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster and trainer Chris Waller.

By Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude LR 1800m

New Plymouth Raceway Track: Good(4) Time: 1:50.63
1
Hinekaha
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Hinerangi (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: C J Grylls 56.5
2
0.5
Eye Candy
- 3f Darci Brahma (NZ) x Myback (NZ) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: L Sutherland 56.5
3
2.3
This Time Girl
- 3f Contributer (IRE) x Le Cailloux (NZ) (Cape Blanco (IRE))
Tnr: Hollie Wynyard Rdr: R T Elliot 56.5
4
2.4
Renovations
- 3f Ardrossan (AUS) x Dee I Why (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: C W Cole Rdr: Harry Grace 56.5
5
2.5
Skymax
- 3f Ferrando (NZ) x En Garde (NZ) (Duelled (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: B D Rogerson 56.5
6
3.8
Wounder
- 3f Contributer (IRE) x Hirtshals (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: L O'sullivan & A Scott Rdr: Marc R Lerner 56.5
7
4.6
Piccolino
- 3f Proisir (AUS) x Efrosini (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: F J Auret Rdr: K R Hercock 56.5
8
8.6
Marvie
- 3f Wyndspelle (NZ) x Braidwood (NZ) (Faltaat (USA))
Tnr: T R Hina Rdr: M K Hudson 56.5
More Reading...
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
Blue Gum Farm Welcome First Foal of the Season
Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm announced on Monday the arrival of their first foal of the season and there is no mistaking the sire of this gorgeous filly.
Te Akau Stars Warm Up at Taupo Trials
Perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha headlined a strong contingent of trialists out of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable at Taupo on Monday.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Too Darn Hot Mare Claims Third G1
Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a returning superstar to Darley NSW this spring and there is no doubt he can get an exceptional horse with Fallen Angel capturing her third Group I in France on Sunday when taking out the G1 Prix Rothschild (1m) at Deauville.
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
Trans Tasman Options for La Crique
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.