China Horse Club Win G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas

Media Release - Saturday October 6

The well-known colours of the powerful China Horse Club were to the fore at Hastings on Saturday when Madison County produced a devastating sprint to capture the Group II Sacred Falls Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m).

Madison County - Trish Dunnell

Madison County - Trish Dunnell

The stylish Pins gelding made it two wins from two starts at the Hastings track after he broke his maiden status there over 1300m in mid-April to round out his two-year-old season. From the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable, Madison County had opened his new campaign with a fast-finishing second to race rival Melt in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders' Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka last month.

This time the tables were turned as Madison County tracked Melt wherever she went in the early stages before dashing past the courageous filly in the final 100m of the contest. Melt lost no admirers with a gritty effort while locally trained runner King Louis fought bravely to finish up in third.

Regular rider Matt Cameron was delighted with the win after experiencing a home straight hiccup although his post-race thoughts proved rather prophetic as Madison County decided to end the interview rather abruptly.

"He had an awkward draw to contend with and I was three-wide but I had Melt in front of me so I knew I was following the second-best horse in the race," he said.

"I dropped my stick half-way down but caught it again so he didn't have too much pressure on him, but he still got the job done. At home he's got his quirks and he's not the flashest to ride at the track but he can turn it on when he needs to."

At that point Madison County decided enough was enough as he ducked sideways away from the interviewer before making a beeline for the winner's enclosure.

"He's a promising horse who ran terrific at Ruakaka where he got home very strongly on a leader's day," co-trainer Murray Baker said.

"We felt he was going to take a bit of time but he's by Pins and they are very genuine horses.

Advertisement

"We thought he was a big chance today."

Baker will now look at the options available to his charge as the stable plot a path to the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 10.

"We'll have to think about that one," he said.

"There's the race at Te Rapa, if they run it at Te Rapa, but we will work something out."

That race is the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) scheduled for October 22 with the meeting venue yet to be decided as the Te Rapa track is currently undergoing extensive renovations.

Bred by Garry Chittick, Madison County was a $36,000 purchase by the China Horse Club from Waikato Stud's Select Sale draft at the 2017 National Yearling Sale at Karaka. He comes from the family of champion sire O'Reilly and has Golden Slipper winner Courtza as his fourth dam. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 18
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Royal Ascot Day 1 -G1 Stars – Expected and Very Unexpected
It was a roller coaster ride at Royal Ascot on Day 1with an Aussie owned and ridden victory, a glorious grey, a high profile mare that refused to load and a G1 winner with no pedigree!
So You Think 2YO SW Sold to Hong Kong
A month after his barnstorming stakes victory at Ellerslie, smart juvenile Do You Just has been sold and will continue his racing career in Hong Kong.
Pins Filly Wins G2 Wellington Guineas
An emotional Kevin Hughes was pleasantly surprised to get the judges call in his favour when his bonny filly Emily Margaret prevailed in a tight finish to the Group II Norwood Family Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Hello Youmzain Filly Fancied for Stakes Race on Friday
Lisa Latta will hold a strong hand in Friday’s two-year-old feature at Otaki, with Platinum Diamond tipped as her top seed.
Pins Colt Purple Sector a Class Above in Rough Habit
After watching on as former pupil Vega One blitzed the field in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes, John Thompson had his own reason to cheer when the three-year-old Pins colt Purple Sector earned his first black-type in Saturday’s Group III Rough Habit Plate at Doomben.
Extremely Promising Debut Winner
A small field of six, but plenty of quality in the juvenile fillies maiden at Canterbury on Wednesday with victory going to Kakadu Sunset, a first starter by Extreme Choice.
Unbeaten Wootton Bassett Colt Wins G2 Queen’s Vase
A sire of rare versatility Wootton Bassett (GB) made his mark at Royal Ascot on Day 2 when his unbeaten three year-old colt Carmers made it three wins from as many starts in the Group II Queen’s Vase (1m6f).
Verry Elleegant’s Little Brother Breaks Maiden
Although he was always going to have big shoes to fill, being a brother to Melbourne Cup heroine Verry Elleegant, connections would be pleased to see 3yo gelding So Suave (Zed) return to scale as a winner in Wednesday’s Become A BRC Member Maiden Plate (2070m) at Doomben.
Starspangled Colt Wins G2 Coventry – Half Brother to Vandeek
The first two year-old race at Royal Ascot this year was the Group II Coventry Stakes (6f) with the Aidan O’Brien trained Starspangledbanner colt Gstaad sent out favoruite and duly cruising clear for an impressive win.