Blueblood Mare Wins G2 Tauranga Stakes

Media Release - Saturday November 16

Progressive Savabeel mare Supera overcame a wide run in transit throughout to dominate her rivals in the closing stages of the Group II Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.

The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained five-year-old had looked a Group One winner in waiting last season as her mentors adopted a patient approach with her as she rose through the grades.

Supera - image Trish DunnellRounding off her four-year-old season with a win at Group Two level in the Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa following a narrow defeat in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha, Supera opened her latest campaign with a narrow defeat over 1400m at Ellerslie three weeks ago.

Expected to improve significantly with the run, any predictions of a comfortable victory looked well off the mark in the early stages at Tauranga with rider Michael Coleman forced to sit three-wide at the rear of the eight horse field on the Savabeel mare as The Mitigator and Consensus set up a solid speed out in front.

Coleman edged his way forward approaching the home bend before asking Supera for a serious effort at the 300m. Supera hit full speed in three to four big bounds as she raced past The Mitigator to score with contemptuous ease by two-lengths with Tiptronic narrowly shading Consensus for third.

“She sat three-wide the trip with no cover and was dominant in the end,” co-trainer Ken Kelso said.

“She has got a hell of a lot of ability.

“She’s got a lot of improvement in her as her temperament is getting better so it should be onwards and upwards from here.”

Advertisement

Kelso is confident his charge has what it takes to snare Group One glory as he plots a path for her over the coming weeks.

“All going well we will go to the Captain Cook (Gr.1, 1600m) at Trentham and then get up over ground,” he said.

“We’ll then go to Ellerslie for the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m).

“She’s definitely stronger as when you look at her, she has really developed into a lovely mare.

“She’s not easy but you put up with them when they’re like this.”

Bred and raced by Sir Peter Vela, Supera has now won seven of her 15 starts. She is out of Van Nistelrooy mare Sopra Tutto and is a granddaughter of Vela’s multiple Group One winner Ethereal who won on four occasions at Group One level including Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) double in 2001. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Tauranga Stakes Gr2 1600m

Tauranga Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:36.60
1
Supera
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Sopra Tutto (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy (USA))
Tnr: K & B Kelso Rdr: M T Coleman 57
2
2.3
The Mitigator
- 5g Master Of Design (AUS) x Charming Ruby (AUS) (Rubiton (AUS))
Tnr: P N McKay Rdr: S M Mc Kay 59
3
2.5
Tiptronic
- 6g O'Reilly (NZ) x Tiptoes (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: G N Richardson Rdr: C E Lammas 59
4
2.7
Consensus
- 8m Postponed (USA) x Kate Cross (NZ) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: S J McKee Rdr: A J Calder 57
5
4.7
Hay Tiger
- 7g Tiger Prawn (SAF) x Verry Fast (NZ) (Fast 'n' Famous (AUS))
Tnr: G J Old Rdr: J J Fawcett 59
6
8.2
Hinerangi
- 6m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Hinemoa (NZ) (Elusive City (USA))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: J K Riddell 57
7
9.0
El Coolio
- 5g El Hermano (NZ) x Broker's Dream (NZ) (Elusive City (USA))
Tnr: Ms K A Whiting Rdr: T D Thornton 59
8
11.7
Back In A Flash
- 5m Ekraar (USA) x Dahling (NZ) (Generous (IRE))
Tnr: K & G Opie Rdr: V A Colgan 57
More Reading...
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
G3 Fred Best Showdown for Quality Colts – Rosemont vs Yulong
The rescheduled $300,000 Group III BRC Fred Best Classic (1350m) brings stakes racing to a Wednesday this week with a field of 17 to go around at Doomben and at the head of the market is a pair of quality colts.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
In-Demand Stallions Feature in NZB Weanling Sale Catalogue
The catalogue for the 2025 NZB National Weanling Sale features the progeny of a broad range of sires, from proven topliners to exciting up-and-comers as well as the brand-new kid on the block, Profondo.
$850,000 Extreme Choice Colt Equals MM National Yearling Record
A stunning colt by Extreme Choice equalled the all time record price at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast today when he sold for $850,000.
Mo'Unga Looking to Bounce Back
Trainer Annabel Neasham is looking forward to stepping out Group One winner Mo’unga in the Gr.2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, where she is expecting to see an improved run from the entire.
Probabeel Chasing Karaka Million History
High-class filly Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) will shoot for a slice of history at the Karaka Million twilight race meeting at Ellerslie on January 25.
Pencarrow Stud hits a hundred winners in stellar season
Pencarrow Stud has celebrated an outstanding achievement with a century of homebred winners for the season.
One to Watch – Echuca
Twin Hills Stud’s Peltzer had an impressive winner at Echuca on Tuesday for his breeder Olly Tait.