New Stakes-Winner for Iffraaj

Media Release - Saturday April 6

Local runner Who Dares Wins upset the favourites when he produced a bold finishing burst to capture his first win at stakes level when scoring in the Listed Christchurch Casino Easter Cup (1600m).

Who DAres Wins - RAce ImagesThe popular six-year-old Iffraaj gelding had his large band of connections roaring the grandstand down as he breasted up alongside Residential and northern visitor Contessa Vanessa with 150m to run before forging clear for a comprehensive victory.

The win marked a wonderful effort from trainers Tony and Lyn Prendergast who produced their charge fresh-up from a lengthy summer spell with just a pair of trial wins last month to fit him for his assignment.

"It hasn’t been easy,” Tony Prendergast said as he waited for his charge to return to the Riccarton birdcage.

"It’s four months since he raced and although he’s had a couple of trials it wasn’t against much opposition.

"It all worked out good in the finish though.”

Prendergast admitted the stable was happy leading into the race but that didn’t mean they were confident of success.

"We weren’t overly confident although we knew he was well,” he said.

"We were just worried about not being quite as seasoned as the others with the wet track.”

Advertisement

Rider Samantha Wynne paid tribute to the Prendergast stable for having her mount ready to win in the testing Heavy10 track conditions on the day.

"Credit goes to Tony and Lyn and the team at home,” she said.

"When you’re pulling off heels at the 700m at Riccarton you know you are travelling not too bad.

"I thought I might have been unlucky at that point, but it probably did me a favour.

"I think this horse can go on to bigger and better things.”

Who Dares Wins is the son of stakes-placed Centaine mare, Wee Tipple and has now registered seven wins and a further 13 placings from 47 starts. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday morning and the winners include unraced youngsters by Cool Aza Beel and I Am Invincible, plus a Farnan colt that tried his luck in Group races in the autumn and was far from disgraced.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 4
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Timaru Cup Win for Who Dares Wins
There were emotional scenes in the Timaru birdcage following the running of the Listed Craigmore Sustainable Holdings Ltd Timaru Cup (1600m) on Saturday as the connections of Who Dares Wins waited for their pride and joy to return to the winner’s enclosure.
Deserved G1 Win for Wyndspelle
A perennial bridesmaid at the highest level, consistent galloper Wyndspelle finally cracked a maiden Group One triumph when he took out the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) in fine style at Trentham.
Griffin Gets the Bickies at Taupo for Te Akau
gavelhouse graduate Griffin , a full brother to Gingernuts, produced a promising fresh up performance at Taupo on Sunday, much to the delight of the Te Akau Slam Dunk Syndicate.
Group I Winner Jon Snow Retired
Former ATC Derby winner Jon Snow has been retired after finishing a gallant third in the Group I Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day.
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
One to Watch – Ballarat
Synthetic track meetings at Ballarat can throw up some misleading form, but a debut winner from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable that started in the red and won by nine lengths is probably worth a closer look.