Sunday Stakes-Winner for Tavistock

Media Release - Sunday September 23

Consistent mare Tomelilla put further value into her future breeding prospects when she added the Listed Haunui Farm Karaka Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe to an already impressive career record.

Tomelila - Trish DunnellThe six-year-old Tavistock mare made it eight victories from just 25 starts as she cruised home in the day's feature by a comfortable two length margin. Three of her wins have now come in black-type contests including the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) back in May.

Sent for a brief let-up after finishing third in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) in July, the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained galloper tuned up for her raceday return with a handy run over 935m at the Cambridge trials 10 days ago.

Punters saw enough in the trial to send her out favourite on Sunday and were on good terms throughout as rider Matt Cameron produced a gem of a ride to secure the victory.

Handy stayer Excalibur made up good ground after an interrupted run in the home straight to finish second while He's Cavalier continued his purple patch of form with a gritty third.

"She's had five black-type races now with a Group Three win, two Listed and two thirds so she is a very honest mare," co-trainer Murray Baker said.

"We gave her a big show today as the track suited her with a bit of give in it.

"We'll have a look at what's next now, maybe a mile, but we'll give it some thought in the next couple of weeks."

Advertisement

A $15,000 yearling purchase, Tomelilla has now earned more than $200,000 in prizemoney for her owners, Greg Jones and Baker's wife Maryanne.

Trainer Shaune Ritchie was delighted with the effort of Excalibur as he looks to step his charge up in distance at short notice.

"It's obviously well short of his best, the mile, but I told Bridget (Grylls) to ride him cold and pick a path through them," he said.

"She did a good job and he certainly looks like he's coming back to his best.

"Races like the Egmont Cup and Hawera Cup will be perfect for him and then perhaps races like the Counties and Waikato Cups.

"It's nice to have a horse like him in the stable." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Tavistock Withdrawn from Service
Tavistock has sustained an injury in his paddock which will impact his ability to cover. Cambridge Stud have decided that Tavistock will be withdrawn from service for the remainder of the 2019 season.
A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime
A passion for pedigrees and thoroughbreds is often one that lasts a lifetime and so it has been for one of the co-breeders of Bravery, who contacted me this week following our earlier and very well read story on current 2YO star Cool Archie.
Tavisan All The Way in Apache Cat.
Tavisan is a rare Tavistock that finds the minimum distance more to his liking than the classic distance, which held in in good stead for Sunday’s $100,000 Apache Cat Classic (1000m) at Cranbourne.
Surgery for Tavistock
Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock suffered a serious injury to his near fore foot eight days ago.
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.
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?
Inglis Ready 2 Race Entries Open
Entries for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – Australasia’s most progressive 2YO Sale – are now open.
New Winner for Bivouac
Godolphin have been  enjoying a winning run with their late season juveniles and it continued at Geelong on Thursday where Bivouac gelding Loving opened his account.
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.
G2 Stutt Stakes Trifecta for Karaka Graduates
Graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock Sales dominated the finish of Friday’s A$200,000 Group 2 MSC Signs Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.