Cambridge Quartet - Cantatrice on Song

The third winner on the programme at Cambridge was talented filly Cantatrice who delivered a stable quinella with Puzzle Master ...

With a wing on every hoof, Cantatrice (3 f Microphone – Arabian Gift, by Dubawi) won with consummate ease when resuming in the $18,500 Sastratech Maiden 970 metres on 18 September at Cambridge.

She had sat outside the leader and quickened clear without urging to stylishly win a trial on 3 September, showing to cope admirably on the synthetic surface, and wore the addition of blinkers for her fresh-up assignment.

Ridden by Wiremu Pinn, who obliged in the race beforehand on stable-mate Rule Of Law (Justify), Cantatrice was away quickly from barrier eight to travel on the bridle outside the leader, was going sweetly turning for home, and raced away under a hand ride to win by four lengths.

In a quinella for the stable, Puzzle Master (Rubick) debuted with a strong performance when making ground late into second. 

Cantatrice provided trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson with their third win on the programme, in addition to Rule Of Law and Stonybreck (Tavistock), who recorded his fifth win on the course.

On the poly-track, Cantatrice ran 970 metres in 55.8 and returned $2.90 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She was super impressive when trialling here a couple of weeks ago and she’s trained on since,” said Bergerson, from the course.

“It looks like she’s a filly that enjoys the synthetic (track), or just needs fast ground, and the shorter 970-metre trip really suited her. 

“There were a few boxes ticked today and after she jumped well it was a very positive win.

“Puzzle Master is also a horse that trialled really well, and a horse that has probably taken a bit of time. Still developing, we might see the best of him in the autumn. But he’d shown us enough at home, post trial, and his work was really good leading in.”

By Australian Champion Two-Year-Old Microphone (Exceed And Excel), Cantatrice was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $145,000 at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Carlaw Park, and owned by Te Akau Dulcet Tones Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). 

A top racehorse, winner of the Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), Microphone also won two Group Two races and a listed race to 1400 metres, recording five wins from 11 starts.

Dam Arabian Gift is by European Champion Sire Dubawi (Dubai Millennium), currently commanding the equal highest service fee in the world at 350,000 pounds and No. 2 rated stallion in the TRC Global Stallion Rankings.

Dubawi is a son of ill-fated stallion Dubai Millennium. A devastating six-length winner of 2000 Dubai World Cup (Gr. 1, 2000m) in track record time (1:59.5), Dubai Millennium was named the best racehorse in the world with his Timeform rating (134) ranking him ahead of Sinndar (132) and Montjeu (130). He ended his career with a Timeform rating of 140, before unfortunately dying after producing only 56 foals from his first crop. Thankfully, one of them was triple Group One winner Dubawi.

At the time of purchase: Ellis said: “She has a fantastic line-up of international sires in her dam line, including the Epsom Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Generous, who stood for a time in New Zealand.

“She’s a physically strong specimen, with a lot of quality about her, and by an exciting young sire.”

Cantatrice was strapped by Muralla Mallesh.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz