Champion Colts Aim at Australia

New Zealand’s Champion Two-Year-Old and Champion Three-Year-Old of last season were both in the winner’s circle on Saturday with Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City) and Puccini (NZ) (Encosta de Lago) claiming further riches in Australia.

Vespa (NZ) successful in the Listed Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes at Ruakaka. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

Last season’s Champion Two-Year-Old Vespa earned his title following a dominant season which included wins in the New Zealand Bloodstock $1m Karaka Million and the Group 1 Diamond Stakes. The NZ$34,000 Karaka Select Sale graduate had his first run as a three-year-old at Ruakaka on Saturday and proved too good for the field in the Listed $50,000 Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes (1200m).

“I was very, very pleased with his performance,” commented trainer Johno Benner, “It was a convincing win in the end, he was just superior.”

Trained by Benner at Otaki, Vespa made the long trip to Ruakaka and struck a favourable Dead 6 track, however the barrier draw of nine in a 10-horse field was less than desirable. 

The son of Elusive City was caught wide early as horses inside of him kicked up and he raced three-wide into the first corner. Rider Mark du Plessis got some cover around the bend, producing Vespa in the centre of the track and then chased hard as local galloper Copy Watch (Time Thief) tried to pinch a break on the field. Showing all his quality, Vespa charged at the line, running down Copy Watch to claim victory by three-quarters-of-a-length with Riding Shotgun (NZ) (Iffraaj) finishing third to complete a Karaka trifecta.

Australian Group 1 races are on the radar for Vespa following Saturday’s victory with the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas at the forefront of plans.

“We will know by tonight exactly what we are doing but he is booked on a flight for Wednesday. If we do go to Australia the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas will be his main target,” said Benner.

“He has furnished out well as a three-year-old and has turned into a lovely looking horse. All going well, he is in for a good campaign.”

Saturday’s victory was Vespa’s fifth win from only seven starts and his third stakes success. He has earned his owners Chris Rutten and John Norwood $728,400 in prizemoney. Rutten and Norwood purchased Vespa from the 2013 Karaka Select Sale from Valachi Downs under their Cavallo Agistment Centre banner.

Vespa was bred by Kevin Hickman of Valachi Downs who enjoyed a successful day as a breeder with fellow Valachi Downs product Merion (NZ) (O’Reilly) winning the Listed Living Legends Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Hickman is also the breeder/owner of Group 1 mare Silent Achiever (NZ) (O’Reilly).

Vespa is out of Fantastic Light mare Miss Avalon, a daughter of Group 3 winner in the United Kingdom Mythical Girl (Gone West).

The second stakes race on Saturday was the Group 3 $70,000 Merial Ancare Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni which was won convincingly by another Karaka graduate, Puccini, for trainers Peter and Jacob McKay.

Last season’s Champion Three-Year-Old was having his second run back this preparation having run fourth at Ruakaka on 30 August. The Group 1 NZ Derby winner of this year started race-favourite for rider Vinnie Colgan.

Ridden positively from the barrier, Puccini settled outside the leader in second spot. The son of Encosta de Lago was a class above his rivals in the straight as he strode to the lead and won with plenty in hand by 1.8 lengths.

Puccini will now either head to the Group 1 Spring Classic at Hastings or head straight to Melbourne with the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes and the Group 1 Cox Plate on the agenda for the entire.

Saturday’s win was Puccini’s sixth win from 18 starts with five of those six victories coming at stakes level. He has earned $762,388 in prizemoney for his owners Paul & Cushla Smithies of Monovale Holdings.

Puccini is a half-brother to six-time Group 1 winner Sir Slick (Volksraad) being out of Listed winner Miss Opera (Paris Opera). Puccini is also a half-brother to Group 3 placegetter Shortblackmini (Black Minnaloushe), the dam of dual Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter Little Wonder (Volksraad).