Elegant is as Elegant Does

In the colours of Dr. Gene Tsoi, Elegant D'Oro (4 m Medaglia d'Oro - Elegant Fashion, by Danewin) won the $10,000 Carter Bloodstock Rating 65 2100 metres on 29 January at Te Teko.

Unable to make up leeway on the leading division in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 11 January at Wanganui, following a resolute win over 1400 metres in December at Waipukurau, the step up in distance to 2100 metres appeared ideal and so it proved.

Chasing a solid pace in sixth, Elegant D'oro tracked clear four wide into the straight and kept winding up to claim victory under jockey Michael McNab.

“She's always shown plenty,” said co-trainer Stephen Autridge. “She's still at the improving stage and we might need to wait until next year to see her best, but very good to see her running out a trip.

“She's very well bred.

“Nabba (Michael McNab) said she is still a bit green when looking to let down in the straight, but that to can improve with maturity and she's certainly going the right way.”

$9.50 & $2.50 was her best return on the NZ TAB tote, after running the 2100 metres in 2:09.7 on Dead4.

“The last filly we trained for Dr Tsoi was King's Rose. She became New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year and was one of the best fillies Te Akau has ever trained.”

King's Rose (Redoute's Choice) was a multiple group one performer and winner that accumulated $1.3m in prize money.

With 34 points in the 2010/2011 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series - 16 points clear of her nearest rival - King's Rose was head and shoulders above the best of her age and sex in New Zealand.

At one point during her three-year-old season she strung together five successes: Ray Coupland Stakes (Listed, 1400m), NZB 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), NZB Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), and Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m), ridden mainly by Opie Bosson, although James McDonald was aboard for the Royal Stakes.

“She was an exceptional filly and she had the Filly of the Year sewn up along way out,” Ellis said.

Winner of the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at his second start, during cup week at Riccarton, Al Hasa (Exceed and Excel) ran a terrific race when charging home for second, for rider Hugh Bowman, for second to stable-mate Avantage (Fastnet) in the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m).

The dam of Elegant D'oro is the 2003 Hong Kong Derby winner Elegant Fashion (Danewin). As a three-year-old in Australia, Elegant Fashion recorded four of her eight career wins including the Moonee Valley Oaks (Gr. 2, 1600m). While in Hong Kong, she also won the Group 2 International Cup and Group 2 Chairman's Trophy for total stake earnings of $A6.6m.

Elegant D'oro was strapped by Raj Raj Rasheed.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz