More Stakes Success for El Roca Filly

Media Release - Thursday December 26

Exciting filly Travelling Light bounced back to winning form when she took out the Listed Shaw’s Wires Ropes Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Travelling Light - Trish Dunnell imageThe El Roca three-year-old was having her first run since finishing third in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last month.

That was the first defeat for Travelling Light at just her fourth career start and she showed she had taken plenty of experience from the race and trip down south with a thoroughly professional performance to defeat promising colt Harlech in a desperate finish to the contest.

Stand-in rider Jason Waddell, who was substituting for the suspended Sam Collett, took a midfield sit off a torrid pace set up by My World before improving into a challenging position approaching the home turn.

Waddell asked for a serious effort early in the run home and Travelling Light burst to the lead. However, the five-week break between runs looked to be taking its toll on the filly who was in danger of being run down by the fast-finishing Harlech and Hasstobegood, who both issued stern challenges in the final 100m.

Travelling Light dug deep and found plenty for Waddell as she held out her pursuers to register her fourth career success and second at stakes level having earlier won the Gr.3 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) on the course back in October.

Waddell was quick to mention the work Sam Collett had done with Travelling Light and the assistance she had given him before the race.

“My condolences to Sam Collett as she has ridden this horse in every piece of work, every trial and every raceday and an untimely suspension cost her the ride,” he said.

“She gave me some insight on the horse, so thanks to Sam.

“She (Travelling Light) is a fantastic filly. I thought we might have been a bit closer but we got a good run and when I pulled her out at the corner, she wobbled a bit and we probably got there a bit soon.

“She’s as brave as they come though.”

Advertisement

Owner Col MacRury was still trying to catch his breath as he waited in the Ellerslie birdcage for the filly he co-bred and owns with his father Ian.

“That’s really special, especially for the breeding looking further down the track,” he said.

“The granddam (Bay D’Ore) was a Te Akau Racing horse that we owned in partnership. We bought her and bred the dam Cissy Bowen and now this filly.

“People always say to you that you’re mad putting the money into horses but when you love it and you really believe in the family then days like today are just fantastic.”

MacRury advised that another tilt at a Group One prize was next on the agenda for the filly.

“She needed that run today as she had 14 days in the paddock after the Guineas,” he said.

“She did that on sheer ability today and she will definitely go to the Levin Classic (Gr.1, 1600m) next.”

The Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) is the feature event at Trentham on January 11. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Shaw's Wires Ropes Uncle Remus LR 1400m

Ellerslie Track: Good(3) Time: 1:22.51
1
Travelling Light
- 3f El Roca (AUS) x Cissy Bowen (NZ) (Colombia (NZ))
Tnr: B W Foote Rdr: J L Waddell 57.5
2
0.2
Harlech
- 3c Darci Brahma (NZ) x Obsession (NZ) (Bachelor Duke (USA))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: M J Dee 58.5
3
0.5
Hasstobegood
- 3f Per Incanto (USA) x Don't Dilly Dally (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit (USA))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: C J Grylls 55.5
4
2.0
Bella Mente
- 3f El Roca (AUS) x Joiya (AUS) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: S F Ritchie Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
5
2.3
Double Impact
- 3g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Double Image (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: K W Hawtin Rdr: T N Harris 57.5
6
2.5
My World
- 3g Jimmy Choux (NZ) x Sacsayhuaman (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Jared Prangley Rdr: M J Mc Nab 57.5
7
3.3
Avadane
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x J'adane (NZ) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: L G Innes 56.5
8
3.6
Sonofabutcher
- 3g Buffalo Man (CAN) x Butcher's Daughter (NZ) (Pyrus (USA))
Tnr: Ms Kim Knight Rdr: V A Colgan 57.5
9
7.1
Folk Dress
- 3f Pierro (AUS) x Gypsy Chimes (USA) (Snow Ridge (USA))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: D S Johnson 56.5
10
7.7
Might
- 3g Power (GB) x Uberalles (NZ) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: S J McKee Rdr: S C Spratt 57.5
11
8.7
Shenanigans
- 3g Ocean Park (NZ) x Trocair (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: R T Elliot 57.5
More Reading...
First Winner for El Roca
Progressive two-year-old filly Bella Mente set herself up for a tilt at stakes company later this month with a determined victory at Matamata on Sunday.
Research on Equliume Light Mask
Don’t take our word for granted ….. Research on the Equilume Light mask for the pregnant mare and foal
First G1 Winner for Fastnet Rock's Sire Son El Roca
Class filly Travelling Light displayed a brilliant turn of foot to down her male rivals as she left no excuses for the beaten brigade in the Gr.1 Woodridge Homes Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham.
The Secret is Out!
He has big shoes to fill as a half-brother to a $12million earner, but there is no secret about his ability! 
Guineas a Game Changer in NZB Filly of the Year Series
After impressive auditions throughout the spring from numerous New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series contenders, Saturday’s $300,000 Group One gavelhouse.com 47th New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton is one filly’s time to shine.
G2 Winner for Hello Youmzain
Due back at Cambridge Stud this spring Hello Youmzain (FR) had a great result in France overnight where his progressive three year-old filly Godspeed won the Group II Prix de Sandringham (1600m) at the French Derby meeting at Chantilly.
El Roca Filly Favourite for G1 Guineas
Unbeaten filly Travelling Light snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in Saturday’s Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie, earning clear favouritism for next month’s GroupI  gavelhouse New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
Lightly Raced Stayer Wins Sandown Cup
The $175,000 Listed MRC Sandown Cup (3200m) on Sunday featured some battle hardened  old stayers, but it was the young kind on the block that got the prize with four year-old Tavistock gelding Diwali scoring his first stakes win.
Cool Aza Beel Strikes Again
Proven Te Akau Racing filly Cool Aza Rene put her quality on display when prevailing in a competitive Nellies Restaurant and Bar 2YO (820m) at Wingatui on Sunday.
Aussie Bred Trifecta in G3 Sha Tin Vase
Toronado (IRE) gelding Helios Express led home a tricta for Aussie bred sprinters in the Group III Sha Tin Vase (1200m) on Saturday defeating Invincible Sage (Thronum) and Patch of Theta (Zoustar).