3 Win Saturday - Origin of Love Simply Lovely

Origin Of Love (3 f Snitzel – Re Edit, by Camelot) delivered a second start victory in the $25,000 Maiden 1400 metres on Saturday at Riccarton. 

Having let down well for second when trialling on 12 August at Avondale, Origin Of Love finished a close third after leading on debut in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 7 September at Timaru, and rated a top three chance. 

Given a dream run by former Te Akau apprentice Jasmine Fawcett, now a fully-fledged senior jockey, Origin Of Love travelled effortlessly behind the two leaders in third, took over at the 250m and sustained a strong run to win. 

In the race sponsored by Speight’s Summer Ultra on Tap, Origin Of Love ran 1400 metres in 1:23.4, a race before the track upgraded to Good4, and as favourite she paid $2.80 & $1.30 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It looks like she can go on from here and she’s a lovely looking filly,” said Te Akau assistant trainer Hunter Durrant. 

“It’s a good time to be a three-year-old down here and she has plenty of options. We’ll get her back to the stables, trot her up on Monday, and go from there.”

Suited stepping to 1400 metres, Origin Of Love has been nominated for both the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) during New Zealand Cup Week (8, 12, 15 Nov.) at Riccarton. 

“I thought it was a really good ride of Jasmine’s and a good effort by the filly to win second-up,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“Jasmine got her into the perfect spot to trail the leaders, got her out and rolling quite early in the straight and she kept up a really good gallop.

“She’s out of a Camelot mare and she looks more of a staying type Snitzel filly, so we’re definitely on target for the 1000 Guineas on the first Saturday of Cup Week. 

“I think that once she gets to 2000 metres we’ll see the best of her, given the pedigree, and there are nice races over ground for these fillies as the season unfolds around Christmas and New Year.

“Obviously, having had that experience at Riccarton really helps when you’re heading towards a Guineas' preparation and I think she has plenty of upside on the back of the win today. 

“Hunter (Durrant) and the team at Riccarton have got the horses looking terrific in the coat, and the extra efforts are certainly showing in the results there.”

Owned by the Te Akau 2024 Magic Fillies Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Origin Of Love was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$440,000 at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Arrowfield Stud. 

Origin Of Love is by four-time Champion Sire in Australia, Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), who serves so well the trilogy of Danehill – Redoute’s Choice – Snitzel, which is unrivalled in great Australian thoroughbreds.

Origin Of Love is the first foal from Re Edit, a three-time winner to 1600 metres, she herself being by the Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in Europe and Great Britian, Camelot (Montjeu). 

The further dam line sires, High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells), Champion Sire and Sire of Sires, is backed up by tough New Zealand stallions Star Way and In The Purple.

Her third dam, Argante (Star Way), left Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Monaco Consul, a dual Group 1 winner and head of the 3YO Free Handicaps (1600m+) in New Zealand. 

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “We love buying first foals, we've have had so much success with them, and this filly is an absolute cracker from one of the best studs in Australia.

“Having Camelot, who is by the world beating stallion Montjeu and also the very best, High Chaparral, both by the ultimate champion sire Sadler’s Well, is blood that is hard to find.

“Plus, she’s got the depth of pedigree of two New Zealand sires that produced some great racehorses and deserve a lot of respect.

“Her fourth dam left the great dual Group One winner Military Plume (Sir Tristram). It’s a very good breed and it’s been bred accordingly.”

Origin Of Love carries a Danehill cross on the sire line and through the dam line of Camelot.

Origin Of Love was strapped by Molly Coutts. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz