Dignitosa Delightful

Appearing in no danger throughout, Dignitosa (3 f Xtravagant - Infra Dig, by Exceed and Excel) recorded a fresh-up victory in the $14,000 Wanganui Chronicle Maiden 1200 metres on 23 February at Wanganui.

Having done well from the outside gate (12) when resuming over 1050 metres in October at Matamata, Dignitosa previously ran the fastest last 600m (34.6) for second on debut in the Pearl Series Maiden 2YO 1050 metres in March last year at Matamata, and came in without a trial.

Prior to the event, Te Akau racing manager Reece Trumper said: “She's got plenty of ability, should jump and land right there. She looks great and 1200 metres fresh-up should suit her.”

Straight to the front from barrier one, Dignitosa settled immediately for reigning Champion Jockey and current premiership leader Michael McNab and it was clear when rounding the home turn that she had the wood on her rivals.

In the finish, she won easing down by two and a quarter lengths after running 1200 metres in 1:13.1, last 600m in 35.7, on Soft6 footing, and paid $3.00 & $1.30 on the NZ TAB tote. 

The win enhanced a very good strike  rate (3.4) for Champion trainer Mark Walker at Wanganui, recording his 12^th win from 41 runners.

Owned by Te Akau Xtra Special Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Dignitosa was a good value purchase ($70,000) by David Ellis CNMZ at the 2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Newhaven Park.

She is from the second crop by Xtravagant (Pentire), whom Ellis purchased as a yearling at Karaka and Te Akau trained to win the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) in breathtaking fashion by eight and a half lengths, running the mile in a staggering 1:33.59, last 600m in 33.04, to establish a new race record, and became the fifth of seven 2000 Guineas winners for Te Akau. 

A dual Group One winner, including the NRM Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m) at Te Rapa by the same eight length margin, Xtravagant now stands at Newhaven Park, N.S.W., in Australia.

The dam of the filly, Infra Dig, was expected to win on debut as a two-year-old over 1100 metres and duly obliged. 

By a son of breed-shaping stallion Danehill, Australian Champion Sire Exceed and Excel began early on as a sire of sires, proving commercial in both hemispheres, and more recently made a name for himself as a broodmare sire, especially in the Southern Hemisphere: New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. 

Exceed and Excel remains one of the best stallions in Australia, with over 5000 winners worldwide and 350 stakes 'winners, including more than 80 juvenile Group winners, and over 70 stakes' winners as a top-class broodmare sire.

It has been said before that Exceed and Excel is “uniquely suited to the demands of Australasian racing”. 

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “There is a lovely line-up of sires in her pedigree. She's out of a fast Exceed and Excel mare that won as a two-year-old and the grand-dam is by Champion Broodmare Sire Encosta De Lago and a three-quarter sister to the dual Group One winning sprinter English (Encosta De Lago), who was Champion 2YO & 3YO Filly in Australia and Champion Female Sprinter. 

“She is a great physical specimen, excellent value, and we think one of the buys of the sale.”

Dignitosa was strapped by Laura Macnab. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz