Aromatic - Group 3 Awesome

Having registered the 100^th stakes' win for trainer Mark Walker in the Counties Cup (Gr. 2, 2100m) last November, Aromatic (6 m Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay, by Don Eduardo) kept a good thing going with victory in the $85,000 Martin Collins NZ Manawatu Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 3, 2000m) on 14 April at Awapuni.

Without all favours last Saturday at Pukekohe, when clocking the fastest final 600m (33.1) for sixth in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), Aromatic has stepped up to stakes' racing in style this season to include seconds in the Metric Mile (Gr. 3, 1550m), also at Awapuni, the Staphanos Classic (Listed, 1950m), the Cuddle Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), and was third in the Waikato Cup (Gr. 3, 2400m).

Following in the footsteps of dam Vickezzchardonnay, who won five races including the Taranaki Cup (Gr. 3, 2000m), Aromatic has inherited genuine attributes from her dam and established an illustrious record equal, if not superior. 

Prior to the race, Te Akau's Racing Manager Reece Trumper said of her last start effort in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m): “She was amazing, we were really thrilled with her and Joe (Kamaruddin) rode her terrifically.

“We always had it in our minds, this race. She came through the run so well and we've been very happy with her, and this morning, taking her for a swim, she looked magnificent and a looks like a top chance in the race.”

Appearing in full readiness beforehand, Aromatic looked fine in her preliminary and raced accordingly. 

Negating an awkward draw (11) to work forward and secure a lovely position in fourth, Aromatic settled into a nice rhythm for Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson and she raced clear over the final furlong to score impressively. 

On Good4 footing, Aromatic ran 2000 metres in 2:01.0 and was well found in the market to return $3.00 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was a great win today, especially on a firm track, and with the backup from racing last week,” Walker said.

“She's had a great season, and it was a 10 out of 10 ride by Opie. It was the ride that won the race - a brilliant ride. 

“You just wish you had a stable full of horses like Aromatic. She's just got the biggest heart and tries so hard, that's the key to her. She absolutely has a heart of gold and gives her best every time she goes out.”

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $160,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Milan Park, her dam, Vickezzchardonnay, by the highest priced yearling ($3.6m, Don Eduardo (Zabeel)) to ever sell at Karaka, was an impressive five-time winner from 1600m to 2100m. 

Fifth in the 2008 New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) and second in the Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m) during her three-year-old season, Vickezzchardonnay went on to win the Taranaki Cup (Gr. 3, 2000m), finish third in the NZ Cup (Gr. 2, 3200m), and fourth in the Auckland Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m), Wellington Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m), Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), and Rotorua Cup (Gr. 3, 2200m), indicating her genuine attributes. 

Vickezzchardonnay is a half-sister to impressive winning race mare Fifty Fifty (Justice Prevails), who won six times and left seven winners of 15 races including dual Group Three placed Balham (Don Eduardo). 

Aromatic was the fifth foal and third individual winner from the mare, and to date the best performed. 

“She was a beautiful grey filly when we bought her as a yearling, with lovely big ears, from the first crop by Sacred Falls, and from a mare that was an impressive winner and very genuine,” Ellis said.

“Now a six-year-old, but she always showed ability and continued to get better as she's strengthened with maturity, and is the type of mare that you would just love to own.

“She building really good residual value for her breeding career, but still looks to have more to give in racing, and we trust she remains sound and continues to enjoy it.

“She's a very correct mare, with an excellent pedigree, and has a lot of quality about her.”

Owned by Te Akau Sacred Wine Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis), Aromatic has won five times, 11 seconds, from 26 starts, and earned $272,350 in prize money. 

Aromatic was strapped by Shaun Magee. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz