NZ Racing News

Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ

Last season’s boom two-year-old Velocious made her raceday return after a tie-back windoperation in stunning fashion when she stormed home from a clear last on the home bend to take out the Manco 1150 (1150m) at Te Aroha.

The Stephen Marsh-prepared daughter of Written Tycoon had been off the scene since finishing near last in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings in September where she was immediately operated on to alleviate her breathing issues.

Given a long and slow build-up that saw her trial on three occasions before stepping out on Saturday, the winner of the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Karaka Million 2YO (1200m)had been expected to perform at a high level upon return with the caveat being whether she could recapture her best after the throat surgery.

Ridden by Courtney Barnes, who had piloted five of the nine winners on the card at Wingatuitwenty-four hours earlier, Velocious settled a clear last in the open contest as Miss Bo Peep set up a steady pace in front with topweight Lhasa alongside her throughout.

That pair turned in front and looked set to fight out the finish as Barnes drew Velocious to the outside to make her finishing run.

Just as Lhasa edged clear and looked set for victory, Velocious put in several huge bounds to hit the lead inside the 50m and draw away for a comfortable one and a half-length victory.

Stable representative Rhys Mildon echoed the sentiments of many when he welcomed the filly back with a mixture of joy and relief.

“It’s an amazing job that Stephen has done by bringing her very slowly with three trials after the wind op,” Mildon said.

“He was confident she could return in good style and when she let down it almost brought a tear to the eye.

“You can trial all you like but it’s about raceday and she gave them a start and a beating today.

“It was awesome to see.”

Barnes admitted that her race plans had changed dramatically once the filly was slow away from the starting gates.

“Stephen told me not to panic and not to get her pulling and I definitely did that,” Barnes laughed.

“She had been in the gates a little bit and was rocking around, standing awkwardly and didn’t get away the best.

“She came up onto the bridle and trucked around the corner and I felt she was definitely going to let down.

“It’s great to see a good horse back.”

The win also capped off a thrilling 15 minutes for the Marsh team who had just won the Gr.3Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2100m) with Kiwi Skyhawk, the third winner on the Trentham programme for the stable.

Out of the Snitzel mare Parmalove, Velocious has now earned $955,050 for the Go Racing Burrata Syndicate, after Albert Bosma purchased the filly out of Inglewood Stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2023 for $190,000. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Photo: Velocious winning the Manco 1150 (1150m) at Te Aroha on Saturday, Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Vistetto is the latest of a trio of young stayers to have kicked off their careers in exciting fashion in Australia for New Zealand-based syndicators Go Racing in recent weeks.

The Chris Waller-trained four-year-old was a dominant winner over 1950m at Yarra Valley on Sunday at just his second start, with Jordon Childs onboard.

“He was good today,” Childs said. “He began nicely and ended up in a nice stalking position, upon straightening he just lost his way a little bit, he is still learning how to really put the races away, but he was good that last 100m.”

Go Racing’s General Manager Matt Allnutt said that the son of Tavistock had a delayed start to his career which may have been a blessing in disguise.

“He had an injury as a young horse which delayed his career but in hindsight that looks to have held him in good stead, and he looks like a really good stayer in the making,” he said.

The son of Tavistock will step up to 2000m at his next start at Cranbourne on April 4.

His win followed the wins of fellow Go Racing charges Maison Louis and Cigar Man who also look to have bright staying futures.

The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained three-year-old, Maison Louis kicked off his career with a fifth placing at Hawkesbury and followed that performance with an impressive three-length win at Goulburn over 1500m in late February.

“It was good to see him kick off early in his career and be so dominant,” jockey Andrew Adkins said.

“He’s still pretty casual about himself which is a really good attribute to have. I gave him a tap on his shoulder as he was coming up to the bend and he reacted very quickly. He had a big job ahead of him to chase down the leader and he did it with some style, he’s pulled up excellent and returned to scale great. He’s in for a really nice preparation.”

Co-trainer John O’Shea was equally happy with the performance.

“He did a really good job,” he said. “We hoped that was the sort of performance that we would see. He lived up to what he’s been showing at home, he ran some lovely times, and he did it comfortably.
The son of Super Seth followed his win with a frustrating second placing over 1600m at Gosford on Saturday.

“There was plenty of merit in his run and I was pleased with is effort,” said O’Shea. “He got held up behind a couple of slow ones and he was unable to build momentum into the race. He was very strong through the line, and it looks like he’s going to run a little a trip which is extra encouraging.”

Allnutt said that Maison Louis would step up to 2000m at his next appearance. 

The Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained three-year-old Cigar Man followed his debut fourth with a win over 1625m at Wyong at the end of last month and he steps out over 2000m at Hawkesbury on Tuesday.
Jockey Adam Hyeronimus who was onboard for the win said that he expected the son of Churchill to be an even better horse over 2000m to 2400m.

“He was brilliant,” he said. He jumped well from the gates and put himself into a nice position, when I asked him to click up, he did it in the really nice fashion of a horse that’s going to appreciate getting over further ground.”
“He was a Ready To Run purchase,” Allnutt said. “Our data from the sale suggested that he was going to be a lovely stayer and that’s what he’s turning into and he’s only going to get better with time.

“It’s really exciting to have had three bright young stayers start off their careers so encouragingly in Australia.”

Maison Louis, one of three emerging stayers in Australia for Go Racing, photo: Bradley Photos.