Rosewood (NZ) Wins NZB Finance 3YO

Taranaki owner-trainer Marilyn Paewai landed the biggest win of her training career, and a healthy return on her $4000 investment at Karaka, when her gutsy mare Rosewood (NZ) (Redwood) won Sunday’s $40,000 NZB Finance 3YO (1400m) at New Plymouth.

The first-place prize of $25,000 was more than Paewai has ever won before in an entire season during more than two decades of involvement in thoroughbred racing, and it lifted Rosewood’s prize-money earnings past $50,000 – more than 12 times the $4000 that Paewai paid to buy her as a weanling at the 2014 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.

Rosewood earned her shot at Sunday’s lucrative three-year-old race with two wins earlier in the season and close-up placings in her last two appearances leading into the race.

Regular rider Rebecca Goldsbury put her in a handy position in fourth before urging her forward to challenge for the lead around the home turn. She faced a big challenge from the fast-finishing Keep It Savvy (NZ) (Savabeel), but Rosewood fought back in the last 100 metres and clung on to win by a nose.

“She’s very tough, especially on these heavy tracks,” Goldsbury said. “Once she hits the front she’s hard to get past.”

Rosewood has now had 14 starts for three wins and six placings for prize-money of $55,700. She is one of 19 winners to date from the first crop of Westbury Stud stallion Redwood, along with the Listed winner Romancer (NZ) and the Group 1 New Zealand Derby placegetter Rising Red (NZ).