3 Win Saturday - Colonel Warden in Command

Stakes' placed on debut, Colonel Warden (3 g Russian Revolution – Moralto, by High Chaparral) won the $18,500 Paula Short Memorial Maiden 3YO 1215 metres at 28 December at Rotorua.

Producing a very good debut effort for third to stable-mate Discretion Rules (Alabama Express) in the Listed Champagne Stakes over 1200m last season, Colonel Warden closed solidly for sixth when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1230 metres on 4 December at Rotorua, and justified favouritism with a valiant performance.

Although handily drawn in barrier four, Colonel Warden was caught three-wide on the pace for jockey Matt Cartwright, but travelled up nicely approaching the home turn, established a handy advantage at the 200m and kept finding to score by three-quarters of a length.

“He jumped clean from the gates, but it was messy early and unfortunately I had a terrible run,” Cartwright said.

“The horse deserves the credit. He had to sit deep and he quickened up well and fought hard. Class got him there.”

On Good4 footing, he ran 1215 metres in 1:13.5, last 600m in 36.4, and paid $2.40 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was a good tough effort after sitting three-wide facing the breeze, so it was a courageous win by the horse,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson. 

“It was great to get another winner for the owner, Ronald Lau. He’s been a very loyal client of Te Akau’s, over many decades, and the horse looks like he can win more races given the tenacity he’s shown today. 

“You don’t often get away with racing that wide on the speed, so it just showed his determination to win.”

On course, racing manager Reece Trumper said: “Matt (Cartwright) got him into a nice rhythm and he seemed pretty happy out there. 

“Mark and Sam applied the blinkers on him today and it seemed to help him. He was fair here first-up, but we always knew there was room for improvement.”

Colonel Warden was purchased for A$170,000 by David Ellis CNZM at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Coolmore Stud, and became the seventh winner of eight that he bought at the sale.

In addition, he purchased Group One winners Move To Strike (I Am Invincible) and Captured By Love (Written), along with multiple stakes' placed winner Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard), dual winners The Victress (Zousain) and Legally Binding (Exceedance), and stakes' placed winner Unbridled Joy (Snitzel).

It is remarkable to have achieved such a strike rate and also to see that level of Group and Stakes' performers. Ellis, along with Trumper and bloodstock agent Marcus Corban are heading off on 2 January in preparation for the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, which begins on 7 – 13 January, after their earlier inspections tour in December.

At the time of purchasing Colonel Warden, Ellis said: “He is a running type of colt by a leading young sire that is really doing the job at stud.  He is typical of horses by Russian Revolution, having the substance of Snitzel and Danehill line sires.”

Sire Russian Revolution was a dual Group One winning sprinter in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m), and the son of Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) commenced stud duties in 2018 at Newgate Farm.

Leading First and Second Season Sire in Australia, Russian Revolution has included 11 stakes' winners among 190 in total. 

Colonel Warden is the first live foal from Moralto, a dual winner over 1600 metres, by a sire High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells), that is proving a revelation in every sense. He made an incredible impact when first shuttling to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand, and did the same in Australia.

High Chaparral was a world-class racehorse, who in turn became a high-class sire, sire of sires, and broodmare sire. 

His grand-dam Morwell, by quality sire Royal Academy, is a half-sister to stakes' performers Jolly’s Folly (Bluebird), Justarella Boy (Rory’s Jester), and La Bird (Bluebird), and left seven individual winners of 19 races. 

Colonel Warden carries a cross to immortal sire Northern Dancer and blue-hen mare Special.

Colonel Warden was strapped by Kohen Collett. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz