3 Win Saturday - Stonybreck Scorches Home

Recording his eighth victory, Stonybreck (6 g Tavistock – Fair Isle, by Fastnet Rock) demolished rivals in the $50,000 Join TAB Racing Club Open Handicap 1400 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

It was a good training performance by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, along with assistant trainer Hunter Durrant, opting to give Stonybreck a break (28 days) since finishing third to stable-mate and subsequent winner Cognito in the Open Handicap 1580 metres on 30 August at Riccarton. 

Racing well and boasting a good record over 1400 metres, Stonybreck rated a top chance, but few could have predicted the dominance he exerted in winning.

Taken to the front by Jasmine Fawcett, who had already obliged aboard winning stable-mates Origin Of Love (Snitzel) and Out Of The Blue (Tivaci) earlier on the programme, Stonybreck travelled sweetly before sprinting clear in the straight to score by five lengths.

The race provided Te Akau with a quinella, as Perfect Scenario (Iffraaj), who had been unlucky in two prior starts in this campaign, ran on well for second after being caught wide near the pace. 

On Good4 footing, Stonybreck ran 1400 metres in a highly respectable 1:21.7 and paid $4.70 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote. 

A good horse from the outset and debut winner, Stonybreck appears in career best form, given the manner of his win at Open Handicap level, which augurs well for fulfilling his nomination in the $250,000 Group 3 Join TAB Racing Club Mile (1600m) during Cup Week on Wednesday 12 November at Riccarton.

“It was a terrific win and I thought it was an intelligent ride by Jasmine (Fawcett),” Walker said. “She got across to lead, stole such cheap sectionals, and increased the tempo from the 600m. 

“He’s been a fantastic horse. Dave (Ellis) bought him very cheaply, and he’s provided the owners with a lot of fun. He’s going really well and looks like he’s got plenty more to come.

“It’s his first trip to the South Island, and he’s loving the environment at our stables on the course at Riccarton. Hunter and the team have got him looking great and he’s racing accordingly.”

Stonybreck was purchased for $20,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and now won eight races for owners in the Te Akau Northern Scotland Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

From the same draft, Ellis subsequently bought his half-sister for $190,000 at Karaka 2022 Book 1 Sale. Named Star Of Justice (Justify) she won the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) before being sold online through Gavelhouse.com for $227,500. 

There is no doubting the quality of the family, which runs deep with black type stakes' winners. 

By Fastnet Rock (Danehill), dam Fair Isle, a winner over 1600 metres in Australia, has now left four individual winners of 12 races, while grand-dam Miss Scarlatti (Stravinsky) won a Listed race and also strung together second placed finishes in the Group 3 Norman Robinson (2000m), Group 2 Wakefield Stakes (2000m), and Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) in the space of three starts as a three-year-old.

Her half-sister, Abidewithme (Redoute’s Choice), was trained by Te Akau to record nine wins, including the Group 2 Travis Stakes (2000m), Group 2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m), and she was also three times Group 1 placed. 

The third dam Crimson (Zabeel), an impressive winner and Third Top Filly on the NZ 3YO Free Handicaps, won the Group 2 Grosvenor Championship Stakes (2100m), Group 3 Waikato Guineas (1600m), and finished second in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2000m), when trained by Jim Gibbs before transferring to Bart Cummings during the latter stages of her career. 

Crimson left winners of fourteen races, while her dam, Bourbon Lassie (Mellay) also produced the stallion Omnicorp (Grosvenor).

Stonybreck was strapped by Katherine Hadler. 

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