Awapuni Double - Devoted Dashing

Devoted (5 g Contributer - Mapmaker, by Volksraad) continued a terrific weekend for Champion Jockey Michael McNab, when successful in the $14,000 Rush Excavation Rating 60 2100 metres on 23 April at Awapuni.

The Jockeys' Premiership winner last season, McNab has a firm grasp on retaining his title, helped by winning all three stakes' races a day earlier at Pukekohe: Easter Handicap (Gr. 3, 1600m), Championship Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m), and Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1600m). 

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $55,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Cartography Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Devoted made a great start to his career as a three-year-old when winning on debut over 1600 metres, and capped solid recent efforts with a win.

A good second prior to finishing sixth in the Rating 60 2100 metres on 12 April at Ruakaka, Devoted overcame the outside gate (9) to secure a nice spot in fourth and after travelling up sweetly at the 400m he raced clear to win easily by four and a half lengths.

“Devoted bolts in,” said commentator Tony Lee. “Too good, another for Michael McNab will take him to 126 this season and the record-breaking Mark Walker, of course preparing, another one on the programme.

“When he pulls out like that a little way from home, you know he's got a bit of horse under him and, generally, that is the result.”

Building fitness ahead of jumps' campaign, and with a confidence boosting win under his belt, Devoted will soon turn his attention to the fences.

“It was a lovely ride of Michael McNab's and good tough effort by the horse,” Walker said. “We're getting him ready for jumps' races, so it was good to win one on the flat.”

On Heavy10 footing, Devoted ran 2100 metres in 2:18.0 and paid $4.00 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote. 

From the first crop of Champion Australian Middle Distance Horse of the Year Contributer, a dual Group One winner of the Chipping Norton (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Ranvet Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m). His dam, Mapmaker (Volksraad), won twice and placed in the Trentham Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m).

Contributer is the highest rated (117) son of sire of sires High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells) standing in New Zealand, while dam sire Volksraad (Green Desert) was a fantastic addition to the New Zealand breeding industry, leaving a multitude of impressive performing racehorses stamped by the sire with a trademark ability to accelerate. In turn, Volksraad has become a very good broodmare sire.

The grand-dam of Devoted, Straight Eight, by 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Danske (Danehill), was a solid performing winner of three races and finished second in a Marton Cup (Listed, 2100m), while his third dam, Straight Line, was by very good stallion Straight Strike (Mr. Prospector). 

The beneficiary of four hurdles' races last season, Devoted appears to have made the necessary improvement as a five-year-old to establish himself in the jumping ranks. 

Devoted was strapped by Kohen Collett. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz