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MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2014
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Syndicate hungry for more success
after first Group One victory
The winning connections of Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj) enjoy the birdcage presentation for Saturday’s Gr. 1 Sothys 2000 Guineas
T
he vagaries of fate, fortune and luck that played their
part in introducing three Melbourne based friends to
racing and breeding professional Lindsay de Souza
just on four years ago paid a massive winning dividend at
Riccarton on Saturday when their horse Turn Me Loose (NZ)
(Iffraaj) triumphed in the Gr. 1 Sothys 2000 Guineas.
And while the partnership that now comprises seven
members basks in the warm glow of their first success at the
elite level, they are savouring the promise of more to come
through a substantial investment in the New Zealand racing
and breeding industry.
De Souza first met friends Todd Hartley, Doug Painter
and Paul Vawdrey, who are all involved in the trucking and
transport industry in Melbourne, when they contacted him
through the website of thoroughbred training establishment
Riverend Park.
“I had actually left Riverend Park when the guys tried to
contact me but my name was still on the website and the
people there gave them my number,” explained de Souza.
“They were keen to get into the racing game and wanted
to give it a decent crack so we talked about the options that
were available and ended up forming a partnership where we
each had a 25% share in the horses we bought.
“As things developed Doug and Paul had three other
friends in Jim Lark, Scott Brown and Jim Robertson who
were also keen to get involved so we changed the mix to the
original four holding 20% each and those three combine to
hold the remaining 20% share.
Continued on page 3
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NZTM News
MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2014
Syndicate hungry for more success
after first Group One victory
(Continued from page 1)
“I had been a regular visitor to both the Yearling and
Ready To Run sales at Karaka and we began to purchase
horses from those sales and that’s where we found Turn Me
Loose.”
De Souza first saw the Iffraaj colt that was going through
the 2013 Ready To Run sale of two-year-olds from George and
Maryanne Simon’s Mana Park draft, when watching the presale breeze up video clips and immediately knew this was one
they had to have.
“He caught my eye so much watching his breeze up video
and during the sale that I actually rang the boys and said this
was one we just had to have,” he said.
“They said go for it and get him for whatever it takes
which actually turned out to be a lot less that what I figured it
might.
“I guess the rest is history but I can’t stress enough how
fortunate we were to firstly buy him and now to have him
become a Group One winner at just his sixth start is simply
unreal.”
The deeds of multiple Group One winner Dundeel had
convinced the syndicate they wanted Cambridge trainers
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman to mentor the horse with
de Souza fulsome in his praise of the duo.
“Murray and Andrew had done a fantastic job with
Dundeel so we were keen to get a horse with them and
thankfully they agreed to take him,” he said.
“They have been simply superb in the way they have
brought him along as he can be a real handful but I think
you saw on Saturday that he may have turned the corner as
his racing manners were first class and that is a credit to the
stable.”
Saturday’s success has boosted the prospects of a future
breeding career for the son of Iffraaj which is something the
syndicate is keen to further as they expand their involvement
in that side of the thoroughbred industry.
“He has provided us with the first major success of our
venture and I guess we will need to look carefully at where
he goes now because of his potential value at stud,” noted de
Souza.
“That will most probably mean he will race in Australia
at some stage to try and further those prospects but any
decisions will be made in consultation with Murray and
Andrew further down the track.”
With the syndicate currently having horses with both the
Baker/Forsman team and Shaune Ritchie at Cambridge they
have also expanded into the breeding game with their five
Danehill broodmares currently based at Auckland’s Haunui
Farm.
“Each of our mares is going to Iffraaj this season as we
believe in that cross which has produced some phenomenal
results to date,” said de Souza.
“Iffraaj has had something like five Group One winners in
the Northern Hemisphere and with Turn Me Loose now his
first here we think he has a lot to offer and there is plenty of
potential in those matings.
“We said right from when we started we wanted to do
this properly and the expansion of our racing and breeding
interests has been a steady progression.
“The result on Saturday is something you dream about
and I guess what we are all thinking now is long may it
continue!”
New Zealand Racing Desk
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NZTM News
MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2014
Left handed the key
for Tomorrowland
A
return to his favoured left handed way of going at
Te Rapa on Saturday was all that talented gelding
Tomorrowland (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous) needed to
extend his winning record and set himself up for a tilt at
further riches over the next few months.
The speedy son of Fast ‘N’ Famous had disappointed in
his most recent run at Ellerslie after a scintillating victory
when fresh-up at Hastings, however trainer Danica Guy was
confident he would make amends on the weekend.
“His work since Ellerslie has been first class and I was
pretty confident he could win on Saturday as he is a very
good galloper,” she said.
“He’s just not as good going the Ellerslie way around but
we had to test him there early in this campaign as there has
been talk of a tilt at the Railway Handicap on New Year’s Day
and you don’t want to go in to a race like that not knowing if
they can handle the track.
“I think for now it is best to keep him going left-handed as
that’s where he is most comfortable and there are still some
pretty good prizes coming up that we can take a look at.”
Those targets include the Gr. 1 Telegraph Handicap at
Trentham although Guy is keen to keep her charge to his own
grade for the time being.
“I’ve had a look at the programme and there really isn’t
much for him at this stage,” she said.
“He will probably be at the top of the handicaps in a rating
75 race so we may look at the next grade up to get some
weight relief but I don’t want to tackle an open handicap just
yet as it would crucify him if he won it.”
Guy was also delighted the horse was showing no ill
effects of the pelvic injury that put a temporary halt to his
career after he won in maiden company in March.
“He fractured his pelvis and needed a month of box rest
before he could start on some light work to start to get his
muscle tone and base fitness back,” she explained.
“Thankfully he has come back really well and hasn’t shown
any signs of the injury bothering him at all.
Speedy galloper Tomorrowland (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous)
returned to winning form at Te Rapa on the weekend
“I think he can go a long way as he has always shown
plenty so it would be nice to give him the opportunity to
deliver on that promise.”
New Zealand Racing Desk
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NZTM News
MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2014
Curious coming of age
at the right time for Alton
T
alented four-year-old gelding Curious (NZ) (Alamosa)
made it three wins from his last four starts with a
comfortable victory at Te Rapa on Saturday although
trainer Gary Alton didn’t have much time to celebrate as he
prepared for another important task that evening.
Alton will produce the in-form Biologist (Danehill
Dancer) for his toughest test to date in Wednesday’s Gr. 2
Couplands Bakeries Mile at Riccarton and was putting the
finishing touches on his travel preparations shortly after the
completion of racing on the day.
“We didn’t have much time to savour the win on Saturday
as I had to get Biologist ready for the float trip to Auckland as
he was on a flight to Christchurch later in the night,” he said.
“He travelled down there with a few of the other northern
horses and made it to his base at Brian Court’s place at
around 6am on Sunday morning.
“All reports are he travelled well so we are happy with him
at this stage and I’m confident he will put in a good showing.”
With Biologist assuming the mantle of stable star
following the retirement of multiple Group One winner
Historian (NZ) (Choisir) last season, Alton is hopeful Curious
can also make the jump to stakes level once he fully matures
into his imposing frame.
“He’s a big gangly sort and you can see the improvement
he has made from his first campaign,” he noted.
“We only raced him as a three-year-old because his owner,
Graham Morgan, was in very poor health and were keen to
get a win before he passed away but sadly he just wasn’t
strong enough to do that.
“During his winter spell he really strengthened up
however I do think he is still at least six months away from his
best.
“A race like the Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie at Christmas might
be something to aspire to with him as I think he will be best
around that distance but we will play it by ear at this stage as
this time next year might be when you see the very best of
him.”
New Zealand Racing Desk
Curious (NZ) (Alamosa) on the outer goes down by a narrow margin on Livamol Spring Classic day at Hastings but has made amends with
two victories since then.
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NZTM News
MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2014
Sardaaj provides red hot Marsh
stable with further success
A
fter a slow start Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is
now reaping the rewards of the patient approach he
adopted for the start of the current racing season.
The win of three-year-old filly Sardaaj (NZ) (Iffraaj) at
Te Rapa on Saturday was the 12th for the Marsh stable this
season with eight of those coming in the last three weeks.
“I said to my owners during the winter that we would take
a patient approach to this season and to hopefully expect the
team to be firing as we got closer to Christmas,” noted Marsh
“I guess it’s easy to say those things but we didn’t want to
be struggling around in the early spring when the tracks are
still pretty wet which can undo any good work you may have
done at that stage.
“Thankfully it all seems to have come together brilliantly
recently and I’m really excited about our prospects as we have
a great mix of older established horses along with some very
promising two and three-year-olds.”
Included in that “promising” description is Iffraaj filly
Sardaaj who maintained her unbeaten record on the
weekend with a performance that indicated a step up to
stakes company would not be beyond her in the coming
weeks.
“She has shown us plenty right from day one but that was
a massive performance on Saturday as she had to work hard
from the wide draw and then got taken on most of the way,”
enthused Marsh.
“To kick away and win like she did against the older horses
was a super effort.”
The filly raced in the ownership of the Geelong based
Rosemont Stud for the first time on Saturday after she was
sold by breeder Annette Antoniadis late last week with Marsh
hopeful he will retain her in his stable for the foreseeable
future.
“The indications are she will head to Australia at some
stage but I’m hopeful of keeping her for awhile longer as we
are looking to take her on the same path as we did with Lucia
Valentina last year,” he said.
“Actually the race that Sardaaj won on Saturday was the
same one that Lucia Valentina ran 6th in last year before she
went on to win the Group Three Wellington Stakes and that is
where we will head with this filly next.”
Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) won two of her first five
starts for Marsh before being transferred to the Sydney stable
of Kris Lees where she has now won at Group One level on
two occasions and finished third in last month’s Gr. 1 Caulfield
Cup.
New Zealand Racing Desk
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh has another smart filly on his
hands with the unbeaten Sardaaj (NZ) (Iffraaj)
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MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2014
Zedkaar comes out tops again
Kiwi Lisa Allpress combines with Zedkaar (NZ) (Ekraar) for a determined success at Kranji
A
determined ride from Lisa Allpress saw Zedkaar (NZ)
(Ekraar) overcome a bit of waywardness in the home
straight to cross the line first in the $80,000 Super
Easy 2011 Stakes, an Open Benchmark 74 race over 1600m at
Kranji on Sunday.
Settled at the tail-end in the small seven-horse field,
Zedkaar commenced to travel through horses as the pack
bunched up 1000m out when leader Eagle Storm (Danbird)
stacked up the speed.
Upon straightening Zedkaar quickly pounced to hit the
lead but just as most thought the $12 favourite would put his
rivals to the sword, he started to roll out under pressure and
Eagle Storm began to show he was not a spent force hard up
against the rails.
More intrigue was tossed into the fighting pit when Board
Walk (Student Council) rushed up with a sweeping run on
the outside but Allpress was the one who had them covered
as Zedkaar rallied to hold his two challengers safely at bay,
scoring by 1 ¼ lengths from Board Walk while Eagle Storm
wilted late to finish third another neck away. The winning
time was 1min 35.31secs.
“For once, he had a horse in front of him to bring him
into the race,” said the Kiwi rider. “I was a bit worried when he
hung out in the home straight, but he dug deep and won a
nice race.
“He’s a nice solid type of horse and can go further as well.
He’s lightly-raced as they’ve looked after him.”
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Continued on page 9
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NZTM News
MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2014
Zedkaar comes out tops again
(Continued from page 8)
Trainer Michael Clements agreed that on breeding,
the five-year-old son of Ekraar will stay, and even had the
Longines Singapore Gold Cup (1600m) as a wild thought at
one stage, but had all but put those grandiose plans on the
backburner now.
“This horse has kept improving. We space his runs, not
because he has any issues, but just to give him more time,”
said the Zimbabwean-born trainer.
“On breeding, he’ll go further as well. We did think about
the Gold Cup early doors, but his rating is too low and it
hasn’t quite worked out, maybe next year.”
Raced by New Zealand owner Graham Mackie of Spalato
(NZ) (Elusive City) fame, Zedkaar has now chalked up a handy
record of three wins and four placings from eight starts for
prizemoney in excess of $160,000.
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NZTM News
MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2014
Many happy returns
for both horse and trainer
ack-from-surgery galloper My Brothers Keeper (NZ)
(Handsome Ransom) sprang straight back to the
winner’s circle first-up to give his trainer Stephen Gray
a more than fitting birthday present on Sunday.
Celebrating his 50th birthday, Gray thought his best
chance of a present among his five runners, would be
Bhaskara (Shaft) in the second race, but after the second-race
starter ran second, the Kiwi trainer could still look back fondly
on the big party his relatives and friends threw for him to
usher in his big 5-0 the night before.
It was longshot My Brothers Keeper, who was making his
return from a throat surgery, that made sure Gray would not
go home empty-handed.
“That will help pay for the party!” said Gray jokingly before
giving due credit to the right people on a more serious note.
“He’s always been a very good horse, but he recently
had wind surgery after his last race, and all credit must go
to Dr Dan Shaw who was using a new surgery technique for
“roarers” only for the second time.
“This horse was a roarer but he wasn’t completely over it
and we’ve trying to hold it together for as long as we could.
“He was first-up today and we didn’t expect him to win,
but he had come through his operation well and we were
hoping he could put in a good run today.”
Brown, who was at his first sit aboard My Brothers Keeper,
paid tribute to the team behind the successful comeback of
the horse partly-owned by Gray and South African couple, the
Bachers.
“Steve’s done a good job with this horse given the wind
problem he had. He’s come back 100%,” said the Australian
hoop.
“He’s a nice enough sort of horse and he was very genuine
in the home straight. Happy Birthday Steve!”
My Brothers Keeper has now scored two wins from nine
starts for stakes earnings just a tick under $100,000 for his
connections.
My Brothers Keeper (NZ) (Handsome Ransom) provides ex-pat kiwi trainer Stephen Gray with a fitting birthday present on Sunday
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MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2014
NZ STALLION AWARDS
The Centaine Award
STALLIONS
The Dewar Stallion Trophy
EARNINGS
STALLIONS
Savabeel
EARNINGS
O’Reilly
$3,393,218
$2,442,668
Savabeel
$3,009,421
Zabeel
$1,901,105
Zabeel
$2,266,850
O’Reilly
$1,808,270
Pins
$1,894,629
Captain Rio
$1,055,086
Elusive City
$1,748,648
Thorn Park
$991,385
Darci Brahma
$1,459,964
Pentire
$964,652
Keeper
$1,432,894
Yamanin Vital
$926,555
Thorn Park
$1,431,192
High Chaparral
$884,353
Captain Rio
$1,300,646
Iffraaj
$718,344
Pentire
$1,275,427
Pins
$714,200
Criteria: Sire whose progeny have accumulated the highest
combined stakes earnings in Australia & New Zealand
Criteria: Sire whose NZ-conceived progeny have accumulated the
highest stakes earnings worldwide
The Grosvenor Award
STALLIONS
EARNINGS
BEST PERFORMERS
Turn Me Loose
EARNINGS
Iffraaj
$600,825
$311,000
O’Reilly
$513,655
O’Marilyn
$87,500
Savabeel
$437,120
Costume
$156,250
Keeper
$420,793
Kuzanov
$37,375
Pins
$416,745
Karla Bruni
$64,375
No Excuse Needed
$384,212
I Do
Darci Brahma
$377,785
Mighty Solomon
$41,935
Thorn Park
$270,570
Ryan Mark
$75,000
Zed
$267,225
Wee Biskit
$66,350
Bachelor Duke
$221,130
Shuka
$55,000
$224,750
Criteria: Leading Sires by Earnings in New Zealand
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12
MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2014
NZ Bred Winners IN HONG KONG
NOVEMBER 9
Horse & Breeding
BREEDER
RACE
Sales Details
SECRET AGENT (NZ) 2010 by Sakhee’s Secret
(GB) out of Jan Valachi by Kingdom Bay
K J Hickman;
Canterbury; NZ
HKJC L’Oreal Paris
H. 1200m.
2012 National Yearling Sale - Select Session; V:
Valachi Downs, P: N Tiley; $42,500
SHINING CHAMPION (NZ) 2010 by Thorn Park
(AUS) out of Catalina Lady by Flying Spur (AUS)
Mrs J Broome;
Waikato; NZ
HKJC Elizabeth
Arden H. 1200m.
2012 National Yearling Sale - Select Session; V:
Brighthill Farm, P: John Foote BStk; $35,000
PLANET CHOICE (NZ) 2010 by Coats Choice
(AUS) out of Chimalis by Chief Bearhart (CAN)
Mrs A M & J F
Bruford; Auckland;
NZ
HKJC Revlon H.
1000m.
STAR TRACK (NZ) 2010 by Starcraft out of Lady
Twain (AUS) by Flying Spur (AUS)
W Schwarzenberg;
Waikato; NZ
HKJC Dr G H.
1200m.
ISHVARA (NZ) 2010 by Coats Choice (AUS) out of
Asiana by Kaapstad
M K Mullane;
Auckland; NZ
HKJC Kate H.
1400m.
2012 National Yearling Sale - Select Session; V:
Rich Hill Stud, P: Shailer Tbreds; $20,000
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MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2014
NZ Bred Winners IN SINGAPORE
NOVEMBER 7
Horse & Breeding
BREEDER
RACE
Sales Details
HEE’S FORTE (NZ) 2011 by O’Reilly out of Dita
von Teese by Pins (AUS)
Waikato Stud 2001
Ltd; Waikato; NZ
Singapore TC Rst
Maiden S. 1200m.
2013 National Yearling Sale - Select Session; V:
Waikato Stud Ltd, P: LK Laxon; $25,000
HORAZ SAMOSIR (NZ) 2009 by Thano (Arg) out
of Zalo by Desert Sun (GB)
Swift Gallops Ltd;
NZ
Singapore TC
Maiden S. 1400m.
AFFLECK (NZ) 2011 by Battle Paint (USA) out of
Greenstone by Green Perfume (USA)
Chequers N.Z. Ltd;
Waikato; NZ
Singapore TC
More Magic 3YO
Championship
Sgp-3 1600m.
NZ Bred Winners IN SINGAPORE
NOVEMBER 9
Horse & Breeding
BREEDER
RACE
ZEDKAAR (NZ) 2009 by Ekraar (USA) out of
Zedcar (AUS) by Zeditave (AUS)
Mrs P A Dunell;
Auckland; NZ
Singapore TC
Super Easy S.
1600m.
MY BROTHERS KEEPER (NZ) 2010 by Handsome
Ransom (AUS) out of Mighty Myrtle by O’Reilly
W J Bloodstock Ltd;
Central; NZ
Singapore TC Ace
Aliado S. 1200m.
BRAVO (NZ) 2009 by Handsome Ransom (AUS)
out of Feel On (AUS) by Encores
P Setchell; Waikato;
NZ
Singapore TC
Always Fast S.
2200m.
Flyinggold – BRIGHT GENERAL (Sing.) (NZ) 2010
by Sakhee’s Secret (GB) out of Beauty Queen by
Keeper (AUS)
G A Shand; Waikato;
NZ
Sales Details
2011 Ready to Run Sale; V: Posa’s Lodge, P: Mr
B McDonald; $38,000
2011 National Yearling Sale - Festival Session;
V: Oxford Thoroughbreds Ltd, P: Mr CA Gately;
$10,000
Singapore TC
Exaggerate S.
1200m.
DATA PROVIDED BY:
The New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing Team
12 Sir Tristram Avenue, Te Rapa, Hamilton, New Zealand
Phone: +64 7 849 7230 Fax: +64 7 849 1687 Email: nztm@nztm.co.nz
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