Riccarton 2YO Winner for Maurice

Breednet - Wednesday February 19

Progressive juvenile Best Rose turned the tables on her key rival at Riccarton Park on Wednesday, scoring an impressive second-up victory in The Tea House At Riccarton Park 2YO (1000m).

Best Rose winning at Riccarton on Wednesday. Photo: Race Images South

A filly by Maurice, Best Rose had made two trial appearances for Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stable before venturing south to their Riccarton base where she debuted for second behind Zelia.

The pair were set to go head-to-head again at the midweek meeting and despite the last-start defeat, Best Rose closed an odds-on favourite at $1.60, with Zelia at $2.90 and debutant Shesascorcher at $8.20. With a number of inexperienced runners in the field, the race was delayed significantly with the eventual late scratching of Miss Starlight, while Best Rose also took her time to join the line.

In the hands of Michael McNab, the filly finally settled and flew the barriers, crossing to find the rail from her outside draw. Zelia remained off the fence throughout and once they straightened, Best Rose was off and gone, pinning her ears back to put a three-length margin on Zelia, with Shesascorcher a further 2-3/4 lengths back in third.

McNab collected a pair of Group victories aboard Te Akau’s juveniles last Saturday at Matamata, and heading south, he was complimentary of Best Rose’s effort.

“She jumped well, cleared them and worked along at a nice gallop, then picked up off that,” he said. “She did a really good job.

“To be honest, going through the form and replays yesterday, there were a lot that were very green. If the favourite (Zelia) went, I’d go sit with them, but I jumped and was able to muster quicker, so I was happy to find the rail.

“She won well today and she can only go ahead with it.”

Sam Bergerson, who trains the filly in partnership with Mark Walker, was on course and was rapt with the performance, albeit with a few anxious moments pre-race. 

“Apart from loading in the barrier, she was very straightforward,” Bergerson said. “It’s good when the two-year-olds can find the rail and follow the rail home.

Advertisement

“She quickened nicely and seemed to relax lovely for Michael, it was a good positive ride.

“There were a few nervous moments, they late scratched one and then she was in and out a bit. She was pretty stubborn and that’s probably the only time she’s put a foot wrong to be honest.

“She’s got that good aggressive racing style and seems to love being a racehorse. Onwards and upwards with her.”

Te Akau scooped the pool in the South Island’s two-year-old stakes races last season and they hope to do so again in a couple of months’ time, with the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) and Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m) on her radar.

“I think at this stage, she seems happy down here,” Bergerson said. “Hunter (Durrant, assistant trainer) and the team are doing a fantastic job with her and those two Listed races in April look ideal.

“There is a bit of time between now and then, so we’ll get her home and see how she pulls up, but they look like two nice initial targets.”

Bred by Gene Tsoi’s Standard 2080 Ltd, Best Rose is out of a Snitzel mare Queen’s Legacy, a half-sister to Group One winning-mare King’s Rose, carrying the same purple and pink silks King’s Rose did when she won the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) for Te Akau back in 2010.

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - The Tea House At Riccarton Park 2yo 1000m

Riccarton Park Track: Soft(7) Time: 0:58.58
1
Best Rose
- 2f Maurice (JPN) x Queen's Legacy (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55
NZB Karaka Book 1 $0
Seller: Carlaw Park
Buyer: Withdrawn
2
3
Zelia
- 2f Fierce Impact (JPN) x Kakariko Village (NZ) (Shooting To Win (AUS))
Tnr: D M Walsh Rdr: L T Hemi 56
NZB Karaka Book 2 $0
Seller: Grangewilliam Stud
Buyer: Withdrawn
Inglis Australian Weanling Sale $11,000
Seller: Fairview Park Stud, Grose Wold
Buyer: J Corcoran
3
5.8
Shesascorcher
- 2f Super Seth (AUS) x Summer's Day (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Andrew Carston Rdr: A Comignaghi 55
NZB Karaka Book 1 $85,000
Seller: Jamieson Park
Buyer: Go Racing Ltd / Blandford Bloodstock
4
13.3
Full Cream
- 2f Hello Youmzain (FR) x Frothed (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: R Mckay & A Harrington Rdr: Y Atchamah 54
5
15.3
Nameless
- 2f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Cinderella (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: Ms S L Wynne Rdr: C R Barnes 55
6
23.5
Few
- 2g Ferrando (NZ) x Chewy (NZ) (Duelled (AUS))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: K R Hercock 57
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
There were six heats for juveniles at the Randwick trials on Friday and some interesting unraced winners including a $1.45million colt by Extreme Choice and a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly bred to win an Oaks..
Sires With Winners - Thursday May 29
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
King’s Legacy Filly Wins by Three
The Lindsay Park team produced an impressive juvenile winner at Pakenham on Thursday evening with King’s Legacy filly Bella Pietra winning as she pleased.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Derby
It’s been 15 years since Dariana thumped the colts to win the Queensland Derby (2400m) in 2010 and maybe it’s time for another filly to triumph!
Expensive Ghaiyyath Colt Wins Stakes
Darley shuttler Ghaiyyath (IRE) had his first Australian winner earlier this week and overnight produced a new stakes-winner in the UK where Godolphin owned colt Opera Ballo won the Listed Heron Stakes (1m)at Sandown.
Investing in Fillies Can Pay Big Dividends
We saw it earlier this month at Inglis Chairman’s Sale and we saw it again this week, purchasing yearling fillies that can perform to a high level has the potential to yield a big pay day in the sale ring, so let’s take a closer look.
One to Watch – Bendigo
A flashy chestnut filly with a bit of the Apache Cat’s about her was an eye-catching five length debut winner at Bendigo on Friday for the Ciaron Maher stable.
Sires With Winners - Friday May 30
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Debut Winner for Kings Legacy
King’s Legacy posted a seventh first crop winner on Friday with a fast finishing debut victory at Goulburn for talented gelding Nothing But Net.
First Winner for Palace Pier
Kingman’s Champion 3YO Miler Palace Pier(GB) was a one term shuttler to Australia for Darley in 2022 and that crop will race next season, but in the meantime he had his first Northern Hemisphere winner overnight at Haydock.