Aromatic Simply Awesome

Presented in terrific order and following a composed preliminary, grey mare Aromatic (4 m Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay, by Don Eduardo) obliged with a dogged victory in the $22,500 Matamata Veterinary Services Rating 65 1400 metres on Saturday at Matamata.

Aromatic followed two seconds cantering home to win by more than six lengths over 1400 metres in March at Rotorua, a win that provided trainer Jamie Richards with his 200^th winner in just his second season of training solo.

After two preparatory trials, Aromatic was aided by drawing barrier one, had the services of leading rider Danielle Johnson and the ability to rate a top three chance.

Returning to the races on Saturday, Aromatic was given an economical trip three back on the inner before launching a challenge between runners in the straight and she displayed real determination in winning.

On Dead4 footing, she ran the 1400 metres in 1:23.7 and paid $3.40 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB. 

“It was another lovely ride by Danielle and great for this mare to kick off a new campaign with a victory,” Richards said. “She'll improve for it, but had the fitness levels to win a competitive finish and that's thanks to the team and a good run in transit. 

“She's a filly that's always shown promise, is stronger this time in and I'd been pleased with her progress.”

Purchased by David Ellis for $160,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Milan Park, Aromatic is owned by the Te Akau Sacred Wine Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). Her dam, Vickezzchardonnay, by the highest priced yearling to ever sell at Karaka - Don Eduardo ($3.6 million) (Zabeel) - was an impressive five-time winner from 1600m to 2100m. Aromatic is the fifth foal and third individual winner from the mare. 

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), to show what a genuine mare she was.

Vickezzchardonnay is a half-sister to impressive winning race mare Fifty Fifty (Justice Prevails), who has left seven winners of 15 races including stakes performer Balham (Don Eduardo). 

“We bought both Aromatic and High Achiever, who has won two from three, from Tony Rider at the Karaka sales and it's great to win another race with a horse that he's bred. We bought them late in the day, quite close together, and they may have got under the guard of a few but they're both very nice horses,” Ellis said.

“Tony is a really good breeder, we've had terrific success with horses he's bred, and those he has in our stable, and the owners in this promising mare are very fortunate. She's needed a bit of time to mature, bred to keep improving, but I think she's pretty exciting and could have the makings of a black type stakes' performer. 

“The stable has topped $600,000 in prize money already this season, it was Jamie's 29^thwinner, double that of any other stable and he's trained four times more stakes' winners.

“The stable is on fire, everyone is doing a great job, most the horses went well today without a lot of luck, but if you win two races every day you'd have to be happy.”

Aromatic was strapped by Shay Dickinson.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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