First Stakes-Winner for Circus Maximus

Media Release - Saturday May 3

Handsome two-year-old Towering Vision broke his maiden status in the best possible fashion when he took out the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) in a torrid finish at Te Rapa to become the first SW for his sire Circus Maximus (IRE) anywhere in the world.

Towering Vision winning Saturday's Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The win also provided his sire Circus Maximus, the European triple Group One winner who stands at Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge, with his first Southern Hemisphere stakes winner from his first crop on the track in Australasia.

Having just his third start and second run since a summer break, Towering Vision settled nicely for rider Craig Grylls on the rails behind the pace before improving sharply approaching the home bend.

With the field fanning wide Grylls picked a path between runners to hit the front at the 200m before being hot challenged by Navy Dreams. The pair went head to head in the final stages with Towering Vision putting his nose in front at the right time to finish first past the post.

An enquiry regarding a bump between the two was instigated by the Judicial committee however this was dismissed with the Mark Walker and Sam Bergson-prepared runner holding on to the victory.

Bergerson was excited about the future prospects for his charge who believes will get better with age and a step up in distance.

“We always liked the step up to 1400m, we thought he would also handle the track and he has just gone the right way of late,” Bergerson said.

“He is a horse we think has plenty of upside and looks like a really nice three-year-old for next season.

“He has the ability to do it now and that is a fantastic result for his owners, for Windsor Park and Circus Maximus.

Advertisement

“We think he can go to the mile next time so the Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Ellerslie is a possibility once we get him home and see how he pulls up.

“Fair play to him as well as he looked beaten when the other one went past him. He got a bit green and got lost but he kicked again which is a credit to him.”

Grylls confirmed his mount had run a little greenly in the straight but was impressed with how he knuckled down to the challenge.

“He hopped away nicely and put himself there before idling up to them in the home straight,” he said.

“He got a little bit lost when he kicked away and the second horse has possibly headed him, but to his credit he picked himself up again.

“You would think 1600m will be ideal for him as he is a big, long striding type.”

Circus Maximus (IRE) is on the board with his first stakes-winner.

Purchased by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis for $105,000 during the Book 1 sale at Karaka in 2024, Towering Vision is closely related to multiple South Island stakes winner Who Dares Wins.

His sire Circus Maximus, a son of champion stallion Galileo, will stand at Windsor Park for $17,500 + GST during 2025 breeding season. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Deep Field's Depth Of Character Takes The Queensland Guineas
Deep Field three-year-old Depth Of Character has opened the path to a potential Group I Stradbroke Handicap tilt after winning the Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Unbeaten Aerodrome - Can Gilgai Breed and Sell 3 SW 2YOs This Season?
Gilgai Farm have bred two of Australia’s best two-year-olds this season and promising Ole Kirk youngster Aerodrome looks likely to be given a chance to be their third season stakes winner after making it two wins from two starts at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 3
Here is the full list of 113 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
So You Think He’s Tough- Punch Lane Wins G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup
Backing up for a third Saturday in a row, super fit So You Think gelding Punch Lane booked his place in the $3million Big Dance later this year when leading all the way to win the $250,000 Group III Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) on Saturday.
First Stakes Winner for Cool Aza Beel
Newhaven Park’s Cool Aza Beel produced his first stakes winner when two-year-old colt Cool Archie won the Listed Dalrello Stakes (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Femminile gives Dundeel first female G1 winner with Derby victory
Supersire Dundeel has his second G1 South Australian Derby winner and his first female G1 winner after his courageous daughter Femminile was too good for the boys at Morphettville this afternoon in the time honoured 2500m Classic.
Winx Half-Sister Wins G3 Hawkesbury Crown
The Winx family has been on fire this autumn producing a flurry of new stakes-winners led by Group I winner Gringotts and Group II winners Enriched and Vegas Queen with a fourth emerging on Saturday when blue-blood mare City of Lights captured the $250,000 Group III Hawkesbury Crown (1300m).
Libertad Back To Winning Form in G2 Victory Stakes
It had been a while between drinks but Russian Revolution stallion Libertad found his way back to winning form in the Group II Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Pride of Jenni Not for Catching at Caulfield
Caulfield has been a happy hunting ground for Pride Of Jenni in recent weeks, and the reigning Australian Horse of the Year produced another spectacular front-running performance at that venue in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Tile Importer Anniversary Vase (1600m).
$1.1million Fastnet Filly a New SW for Sheamus Mills Bloodstock
Tara Talks Racing podcast listeners would have taken notice of the Listed SAJC Adelaide Guineas (1600m) at Morphettville on Saturday featuring $1.1million Fastnet Rock filly On Display.