NZ St Leger Winner for Darci Brahma

Media Release - Saturday March 14

Rugged stayer Sergeant Blast gave a polished front-running display when he led all the way to take out the first black type feature on Saturday, the Listed Lincoln Farms New Zealand St Leger (2600m) at Trentham.

Sargeant Blast in purple - image Trish DunnellInitially viewed mainly as a sprinter/miler type by his trainer and co-owner Sam Lennox, the seven-year-old has proved a revelation when stepped up over more ground in the last twelve months, winning the Waverley Cup over 2200m on his home patch along with his lead up run at Trentham over the same distance last week.

Rated to perfection by rider Lisa Allpress, Sergeant Blast set up a moderate tempo before turning up the heat at the 600m. Allpress stole a march on her rivals turning for home and despite a resolute effort to run him down from Matamata visitor Te Akau Caliburn, Sergeant Blast held on strongly to score by a long neck with 2019 winner Sampson a margin away in third.

“We might have had it wrong for a few years,” Lennox said.

“I might have to apologise to the other owners as he could have been a wasted stayer.

“That is the way he works at home, where he wants to do one more round than you ask him so I did have a feeling that the further he goes the better and today has proved it.

“We set this as the target after he won at New Plymouth over 1800m and with the race last week it has worked out perfectly.”

Lennox was feeling a little emotional after the win with the horse having become a real stable favourite.

Advertisement

“You get attached to these animals as you virtually live with them,” he said.

“He’s a seven-year-old now who has won nine races and he is a part of the family.

“To see him do this on a big day is a massive thrill and is what we get out of bed for and I’m so proud for the little horse.”

Lennox was mindful of the rating penalty his charge would receive when planning for his future and would let the dust settle before making any further decisions on his next assignment.

Purchased by Lennox for $20,000 from the Haunui Farm draft during the 2014 Select Yearling Sale at Karaka, Sergeant Blast has now won nine of his 36 career starts and has topped the $200,000 mark in prizemoney earnings. NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - N.Z. St Leger LR 2600m

Trentham Track: Dead(4) Time: 2:44.97
1
Sergeant Blast
- 7g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Glittering Girl (NZ) (Marscay (AUS))
Tnr: S G Lennox Rdr: L J Allpress 55
2
0.3
Te Akau Caliburn
- 5h Camelot (GB) x Enchanted Evening (IRE) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: D S Johnson 55
3
6.6
Sampson
- 10g Dubai Destination (USA) x Magic Star (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: H W Mathews Rdr: J Parkes 56
4
8.6
Glory Days
- 7m Red Giant (USA) x Bilancia (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: W J Thurlow Rdr: S T Collett 56
5
9.1
Kamanda Lincoln
- 6g Savabeel (AUS) x Our Careyes (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: D G Bradley 55
6
11.1
Dance Card
- 4m Savabeel (AUS) x Dancing Attendance (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: R J Myers 53
7
11.3
Hank Moody
- 8g Savabeel (AUS) x Cantante (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: R J Bergerson Rdr: V A Colgan 55
8
13.6
Toms
- 6g Towkay (AUS) x Steel Stilettos (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: D & E Haworth Rdr: C J Grylls 55.5
More Reading...
Tagaloa 3YO on NZ 2000 Guineas Path
Local three-year-old Alottago thrust his name into Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) contention with a striking come-from-behind performance in the Rangiora New World Guineas Trial (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
Manaal Wins G2 Golden Pendant – Stakes Double Emirates Park
At the official Sydney 2YO trials two years ago in 2023 two fillies impressed in their heat with Gerringong winning and Manaal finishing a close third and the pair filled the quinella in the $400,000 Group II ATC Golden Pendant (1400m ) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Manhattan Rain Gold Rush in WA
Geisel Park won’t be the only WA breeder on board when the first locally-conceived 2yo crop of its Group 1 sire Manhattan Rain get mobile this season.
G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude Victory To Ferivia
Successful in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes two starts back, the Phillip Stokes trained Ferivia secured victory in the Group 2 MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude, becoming the second Group winner in the last 24 hours for the stable after the success of Snow Mercy overnight in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes.
Magic Carpet wins G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas - New SW Satono Aladdin
Talented colt Magic Carpet chose the ideal moment to break his maiden status when he produced a dogged effort to claim victory in the Gr.2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400).
Sires With Winners - Friday September 26
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
€1.9million Sale-Topping Colt Wins G3 Somerville Stakes
The Group III Somerville Stakes (7f) was run at Newmarket overnight with the Godolphin blue carried by exciting Night of Thunder colt Distant Storm, who they purchased for a sale-topping €1.9million at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale earlier this year.
Golden Slipper Winner Marhoona Resumes With Heritage Stakes Win
Having not been seen on race day since her success in the Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper (1200m), Champion 2YO Marhoona (Snitzel) put pay to any ‘Golden Slipper hoodoo’ to win the Listed ATC Heritage Stakes (1100m) at her first start at 3.
Golden Rose Colts – Sires of the Future
The $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) this Saturday offers the winner far more than prizemoney and assuming it’s a colt he is given a golden ticket to a commercial stud career, so let’s take a look at this year’s contenders, who would you want on your stallion roster in 2026?
Kiwi Bred Evaporate Wins G3 Sandown Stakes
Smart four-year-old Evaporate bounced back from a setback to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in gallant fashion, defeating favourite Transatlantic by a nose.