Kiwi Skyhawk wins G3 Trelawney Stud Championship

Media Release - Saturday April 19

Kiwi Skyhawk’s last-gasp thriller in the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday delivered a milestone result for his trainer Stephen Marsh.

Kiwi Skyhawk winning the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Having also won the Listed Skycity Star Way Stakes (1200m) with unbeaten two-year-old Little Black Dress earlier on the Ellerslie card, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing statistics now credit Marsh with 97 wins at Group or Listed level in New Zealand.

He has also won three in Australia – the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) with Sofia Rosa, the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) with Chocante and the Gr.2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) with Antrim Coast – to give him an overall total of 100.

Marsh was en route to Hong Kong on Saturday to oversee El Vencedor’s shot at the Gr.1 QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin next weekend. The Cambridge trainer was represented at Ellerslie by Dylan Johnson.

“It’s been a really rewarding day for the stable at Ellerslie today, and 100 black-type wins is a fantastic milestone that the team can be very proud of,” Johnson said.

Saturday’s win also completed a unique achievement for Kiwi Skyhawk himself, who added the Championship Stakes to his last-start success in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic over the same distance at Trentham on March 29.

In the decade since the Championship Stakes was shifted from New Year’s Day into its current autumn slot, no other horse has won both races. Joy Alone went the closest in 2021, winning the Manawatu Classic before being beaten by a nose by Hezashocka in the Championship Stakes.

Kiwi Skyhawk’s Group Three double caps a super-consistent season for the Contributer gelding, who had previously finished third in the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1400m), fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), fifth in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), seventh in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and fifth in Willydoit’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).

“He’s a lovely horse who’s been so consistent,” Johnson said. “We’ve run him in good company all the way through the season and he’s just kept doing a great job in every race. It’s nice to see him pick up a couple of good wins in the autumn, because he certainly deserves it.”

Advertisement

Kiwi Skyhawk had to work for Saturday’s Championship Stakes success. His jockey Matt Cartwright positioned him in midfield and just behind the highly regarded filly Zormella, who jumped as the $2.80 favourite.

Zormella showed push-button acceleration around the home turn and quickly ranged up alongside the leaders, the Marsh-trained pair of Bourbon Proof and Roctave. She left Kiwi Skyhawk half a dozen lengths behind in fifth and with limited time remaining make up that lost ground.

But Cartwright moved Kiwi Skyhawk through his gears and he began to build up his momentum. He hit top gear in the final 50m, diving through in between Roctave and Zormella to snatch victory by a nose.

Marsh and Johnson paid $240,000 to buy Kiwi Skyhawk from Cambridge Stud’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. He has now had 11 starts for three wins, three placings and $281,975 in stakes.

“We’ll have a team talk on Monday about what we do with him from here, but I’d be leaning towards saying he’s done enough for the season,” Johnson said. “He’s done a good job and is only going to get better with a bit more maturity.”

The Marsh team narrowly missed out on a clean sweep of Saturday’s black-type features at Ellerslie. Tardelli was edged out by a neck by Doctor Askar in the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m), in which he was attempting to join Eastern Joy (1985), Status (1990) and Time Keeper (2010) as only the fourth three-year-old to win the race in the last 40 years.

“He ran a terrific race and I thought he looked the winner at the 200m,” Johnson said. “But all credit should go to Doctor Askar, who’s obviously a very good horse. Joanne Moss has done a super job with him.

“Michael McNab and I were both very pleased with Tardelli’s performance, and we just agreed that we were beaten by a better horse on the day.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes Gr3 2100m

Ellerslie Track: Soft(6) Time: 2:12.88
1
Kiwi Skyhawk
- 3g Contributer (IRE) x Pouter (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 57.00
NZB Karaka Book 1 $240,000
Seller: Cambridge Stud
Buyer: Stephen Marsh Racing / Dylan Johnson Bloodstock
2
0.1
Zormella
- 3f Almanzor (FR) x Mamarella (AUS) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: G Rooke 55.00
NZB Karaka Book 1 $0
Seller: Landsdowne Park Ltd
Buyer: Psd, Res $30,000
3
0.2
Roctave
- 3g Roc De Cambes (NZ) x Octave (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: C R Barnes 57.00
4
0.4
Atmospheric
- 3g El Roca (AUS) x Lunaris (NZ) (Redwood (GB))
Tnr: C W Cole Rdr: M Hashizume 57.00
5
2.7
Bourbon Proof
- 3c Justify (USA) x Show And Tell (NZ) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: M J Mc Nab 57.00
6
4.7
Lucan
- 3g Proisir (AUS) x Good Show (NZ) (Showcasing (GB))
Tnr: Debbie Sweeney Rdr: Joe Doyle 57.00
7
6.5
Dubai's Potiki
- 3f Ocean Park (NZ) x Dubai Belle (NZ) (E Dubai (USA))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: V A Colgan 57.00
8
7
Billy Blinx
- 3g Shocking (AUS) x Vegas Wink (NZ) (Buffalo Man (CAN))
Tnr: S & E Clotworthy Rdr: T C Moodley 57.00
9
7.2
Proboy
- 3g Proisir (AUS) x Mangaroa Flo Jo (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & Ryan Foote Rdr: J J Fawcett 57.00
10
9.1
Grey Area
- 3g Pierro (AUS) x Gracious Grey (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: W B Kennedy 57.00
11
9.7
Way Out West
- 3f U S Navy Flag (USA) x Candybelle (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: N S Parmar 55.00
12
13.4
Victorious Warrior
- 3f Vadamos (FR) x Gentileschi (NZ) (Shocking (AUS))
Tnr: D R Wiles Rdr: B E Grylls 55.00
13
18.3
Everymoveyoumake
- 3f Almanzor (FR) x Santangelo (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: W F Pinn 55.00
14
20.1
Love Leigh
- 3f Ribchester (IRE) x Ray's Girl (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: Rihaan Goyaram 55.00
15
20.5
Miller's Point
- 3f Blue Point (IRE) x Miss Miller (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: T A Da Cruz Rdr: K R Hercock 55.00
More Reading...
Kiwi Skyhawk breaks through in Manawatu Classic
After a series of highly creditable performances against some of the best of his age group, Kiwi Skyhawk broke through for his first feature-race success in Saturday’s Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2100m) at Trentham.
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
Kicked out of Australia - Jan Brueghel Wins G1 Coronation
The horse kicked out of Australia last spring as not having suitable scans to race in the Melbourne Cup, Jan Brueghel showed just what we missed out on seeing when taking out the Group I Betfred Coronation Cup (1m4f) at Epsom overnight.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.
Inglis Ready 2 Race Entries Open
Entries for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – Australasia’s most progressive 2YO Sale – are now open.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Oaks
Unbeaten this preparation, Philia will be looking to emulate her half-sister Duais in winning the $1million Group I BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday, but a swarm of up and comers are nipping at her heels, so who are they?
Boutique Breeder Gets a Result with Plan B
A forced change of plan with a daughter of Dubawi has produced another success story for Sydney breeder Warwick Doughty.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday that featured some interesting winners including stakes-placed filly Horseshoe Hill, a couple of unraced youngsters by Zoustar and the highest priced yearling by Prague.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 5
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.