Debut Winner Devoted
Date: 26 Apr 2021
Devoted (3 g Contributer - Mapmaker, by Volksraad) made a successful start to his racing career with victory in the $10,000 Auckland Alarms Maiden 1600 metres on 26 April at Avondale.
Having finished strongly to win when trialling on 6 April at Ellerslie, Devoted was strongly supported ($2.30 & $1.30) to race well and duly obliged from the outside gate (8).
Rider Opie Bosson summed matters up quickly when electing to go forward outside the leader and once in front at the 200m he drew out to win comfortably.
On footing that upgraded to Slow7 prior to the race, Devoted scored by one length and ran the mile in 1:40.8.
“It was a good strong win from a horse that has always been immature and taken some making,†said trainer Jamie Richards, who found the perfect race for his debut. “He got out to a distance that he needed and a horse that looks like he's going to stay.
“It was a positive ride from Opie and the horse travelled nicely outside the leader and found a good kick. He's put a win on the board at the first time of asking, which is never easy to do, so I'm very pleased with that.
“We've had to be patient and the team at the Colt Barn and the Main Stable have done a good job with him. He was getting a little bit worked up in the tie-ups at the Main Stable and we were able to transfer him to the Colt Barn, meaning he didn't have to get on and off the truck each day for work, and it does seem to have helped him.
“It's a great result for the owners and Bill Taylor, who shared in the ownership of Gingernuts, has a good share, so congratulations to everyone involved.â€
By up-and-coming Mapperley Stud stallion Contributer (High Chaparral), already the sire of 25 winners and two stakes winners, including a Group One, Devoted was 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).
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).
At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “He's by this exciting young sire Contributer, a Group One winning son of High Chaparral that had a really good turn of foot.
“His dam (Mapmaker) finished third in the Trentham Stakes and she's left a nice, neat sort of horse and a later foal with a lot of improvement in him after the sale.
“We thought he was really good buying at the price and he's a type to train on as a staying horse.â€
The sire of Contributer, High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells) has sired 23 individual Group One winners and already a noted sire of sires, 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 that finished second in the Marton Cup (Listed, 2100m), and the third dam, Straight Line, was by very good stallion Straight Strike (Mr. Prospector).
Devoted was strapped by Sumeet Pillay.
Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz
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