3 Win Wednesday - Best Rose Indeed

Too slick off the front, Best Rose (2 f Maurice – Queen’s Legacy, by Snitzel) won the $25,000 Tea House at Riccarton Park 2YO 1000 metres on 19 February at Riccarton.

Having fought hard for a close second to Zelia (Fierce Impact) when debuting in the 2YO 800 metres on 25 January at Riccarton, Best Rose received an opportunity to turn the tables and duly obliged in confident fashion.

In a scrap for favouritism, Best Rose eventually dominated to close at $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote and the manner of victory emphasised that punters got it right.

Although drawn the outside (7), alongside Zelia in barrier six, Best Rose was quickest into stride for jockey Michael McNab and was able to cross to the rail in front before racing clear to win easily by three lengths.

“She’s a ripper,” said McNab, on dismounting. “She jumped well, cleared them and worked along at a nice gallop, and picked up off that. She did a really good job.

“I was able to muster quicker than Zelia and I was quite happy to find the rail.”

Ahead of upcoming two-year-old stakes' races on the course in April/May, McNab added: “She’s in the right stable to be competitive in those races. She won well today and can only go ahead with it.”

The win continued a fine week for McNab and Te Akau Racing, after combining last Saturday to win the Group[ 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes with La Dorada (Super Seth), who became the 10th winner of the race for the stable, while also aboard Return To Conquer (Snitzel) in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper, to provide its 11th success.

Best Rose ran the 1000 metres in 58.5 on footing rated Soft7.

On course, Sam Bergerson, who trains in partnership with Mark Walker, said: “It’s good when the two-year-olds can find the rail and follow the rail home.

“She quickened nicely, relaxed well for Michael (McNab) and it was a positive ride. Hopefully she can take that next step.”

Bergerson was referring to the prospects of Best Rose contesting the $80,000 Listed Riccarton Park Function Centre Welcome Stakes (1000m) on Saturday 12 April, and the $80,000 Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m) on Saturday 3 May.

“She’s got that aggressive type of racing style and seems to love being a racehorse,” Bergerson added. “It’s onwards and upwards with her.

“She seems happy down here (Riccarton) and Hunter (Durrant) and our team are doing a fantastic job with her.  The two Listed races look ideal. Obviously, there is a bit of time between now and then, but they look the right targets.”

Bred and owned by Dr. Gene Tsoi, Best Rose is by Maurice (Screen Hero), the 2015 Japanese Horse of the Year and Champion Sprinter and Champion Miler, and is from the family of Te Akau trained NZB Filly of the Year King’s Rose (Redoute’s Choice).

King’s Rose was incredibly dominant in her three-year-old year, winning the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes (1400m), the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m), Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m), Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m), and the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m), on her way to becoming the fourth of eight Filly of the Year winners for Te Akau. 

Although unable to break through for a Group One win in Australia, King’s Rose proved herself across the Tasman when placed in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m), Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1500m), and Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m). 

From the same family, Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM purchased Lot 563 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in January on the Gold Coast: Home Affairs – Kings Iris (Exceed And Excel) $170,000 (draft: Coolmore Stud) a striking filly who surprisingly still has shares available.

Her dam Kings Iris, by Champion Sire Exceed and Excel (Danehill), is a half-sister to King’s Rose, both out of stakes'-placed winning mare Nureyev’s Girl. She is by Champion Sire Nureyev (Northern Dancer), a racehorse with immense turn of foot, Champion French 3YO, and sire of more than 20 champions.

Ellis, who has established a long-term friendship with loyal stable client Dr. Tsoi, who works and lives in Hong Kong, drew comparisons from King’s Rose about the Home Affairs' filly.

“She’s a filly we were obviously very interested in, being from the family of King’s Rose, and she actually has a similar blaze on her forehead,” Ellis said.

“She’s a filly with plenty of size and scope to train on, but also has the natural strength and precocity to run as a two-year-old.

“She’s a filly that has developed nicely since we saw her at Coolmore Stud earlier in December. There are plenty of two-year-old winners in the family, but we also see her improving at three, four, and as a five-year-old.” 

The filly has a bloodline cross to Nureyev through her dam lines, and legendary sire Danehill (Danzig), on the dam line of Home Affairs and sire line of Kings Iris. 

“Marcus Corban, the previous general manager for Sir Patrick Hogan at Cambridge Stud, now assists us with our selection and buying process at the sales, and he’s also the racing manager for Dr. Tsoi,” Ellis added.

“Dr. Tsoi and I have had a great relationship over the years. He’s a very loyal supporter of Te Akau and we enjoyed such wonderful times through the deeds of King’s Rose.

“She was head and shoulders above the best of her age and sex in New Zealand, and had the NZB Fillies of the Year wrapped up along way before the end of the series. She won five of the Series' races in a row.”

Best Rose was strapped by Ashlyn Lee. 

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