Aris Aris - Again & Again

Race favourite Aris Aris (4 m Contributer - Irish Encore, by Darci Brahma) got the job done on 7 October at Timaru, winning the $14,000 Rating 75 1200 metres.

After camping in the trail, jockey Samantha Wynne found room one off in the home straight and Aris Aris drew out under a hand ride to win comfortably.

Owned by Gordon Cunningham (Curraghmore Stud) and Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud), Aris Aris was bred and raced by Kevin Hickman ONZM (Valachi Downs), winning on debut at Taupo, and again at Wanganui, before being sold as part of Valachi Downs Dispersal Sale at auction on gavelhouse.com for $72,500.

Now the winner of three from eight, Aris Aris ended her previous campaign finishing second to impressive Te Akau winner Synchronize (Savabeel) in the 3YO 1400 metres on 14 May at Rotorua, and was narrowly beaten in a battle with stable-mate Challa (Dissident) when resuming in the Rating 75 1100 metres on 16 September at Taupo.

In the race sponsored by Jon Snow & Echoes of Heaven @ Clearview Park Stud, Aris Aris ran 1200 metres in 1:12.1 on Soft7 footing and closed at $1.60 & $1.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She received a kick in track work and full credit to Hunter Durrant and our team at Riccarton, who worked tirelessly getting her back on track and fit for the race,” said trainer Mark Walker, who leads the Trainers' Premiership and has had 15 wins from 33 starts from the southern training centre.

“She's establishing a good record and hopefully we can get some black type with her during Cup Week (5, 9, 12 November) at Riccarton.”

Aris Aris is the second foal from Irish Encore, a six-time winner to 1300 metres, and the promising mare carries a simple Northern Dancer cross through her sire-lines.

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM said: “We're thrilled to have this promising mare in the stable for Gordon Cunningham and Greg Tomlinson. They're two of the best in the business and to win in this grade means she can target some black type races.

“We've bought some top horses from Curraghmore Stud that Greg (Tomlinson) has bred, like 1000 Guineas winner Kahma Lass and also Distinctive Darci and we train Wairau Cove.

“We raced the talented filly Nucleonic together with David & Matt Peacocke and have three young horses out of her by Almanzor to look forward to racing.”

Aris Aris is Irish for 'again and again' and it looks as if she could be winning just like that, again and again!

Aris Aris was strapped by Katija Cherie.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz