Ellerslie Double - Paravane Perfect

Easy as you like off the front, Paravane (3 f Merchant Navy – In The Vanguard, by Encosta de Lago) won the $25,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 7 May at Ellerslie.

Paravane is a half-sister to Group One winner and Champion Two-Year-Old Sword of State (Snitzel), purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, now standing at Cambridge Stud, whose first crop yearlings sold up to $540,000 this year off a $15,000 service fee.

From a fast family, Paravane had recorded two wins and two seconds at trials and rated a top three chance from barrier six. 

At just her second start, and having drawn out late on the bridle to win a trial on 3 April at Ellerslie, Paravane was ridden positively by Vinnie Colgan to lead, dictated terms, and quickened away from her opposition at the 300m to win by two and a half lengths.

“She had trialled well in front and I didn’t want to change too much with her pattern, and in doing so she won pretty easily,” Colgan said.

“She was a bit disappointing when she debuted in December at Te Rapa, but I did take a sit. I pulled back and she got quite lost in behind horses, but was in control today.”

In the race named Join TAB Racing Club, Paravane ran 1200 metres in 1:11.9, last 600m in 35.2, on Soft5 footing, and paid $2.70 & $1.30 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“Paravane has taken a bit of time to mature, but the owners have been very patient,” said assistant trainer Reece Trumper.

“Mark (Walker) and Sam (Bergerson) did the right thing in giving her a bit of time after her first start and I think the owners will be rewarded now.

“It was a great ride by Vinnie (Colgan) to have her travelling beautifully in front and it looked like she would be hard to beat turning for home.

“She had trialled very well at Ellerslie, a month ago, when ridden on speed, and she’s certainly a filly we think a lot of.

“As she matures and gets stronger, she should develop into a lovely four-year-old mare.

“She obviously has a lot of residual value, being a half-sister to Sword Of State, and it’s always great to have Sir Owen Glenn in the ownership group.”

Walker also reiterated that Paravane had been a slower maturing type of filly.

“We’ve had to be very patient with her, but she spelled very well at Te Akau Stud, and she come back stronger this time,” he said.

“We think she’s capable of winning more races, especially based on her performance today.

“She’s got a beautiful pedigree, bought for a very reasonable price by Dave (Ellis), as a half-sister to Sword Of State, and terrific to see her win like she did.”

Owned by the Te Akau Rule The Waves Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Paravane was purchased by Ellis for A$120,000 at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Newgate Farm, and all eight horses he purchased at the sale have now won.

The group is headed by Captured By Love (Written Tycoon), who has included a Group One, two Group Two's, and a Group Three, among her five wins. Also Group One winning colt Move To Strike (I Am Invincible), and Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard), a stakes' winner who is also Group Two and Three placed, while the eight have already recorded 17 wins between them.

At the time of purchasing Paravane, Ellis said: “Merchant Navy was a great racehorse, with a top pedigree. She’s a filly that has plenty of maturing to come, but we know how good her brother (Sword of State) was, with the potential to make an impact as a sire, and being able to buy this filly with her residual value in mind was a real bonus.

“She has a lovely pedigree and we know the family has a motor.”

That residual value has been rewarded in spades, as not only was Sword Of State a sensational juvenile and deserved Champion Two-Year-Old, but the quality and returns on his first crop yearlings was one of the highlights on the Australasian Yearling Sale calendar this year.

Winning six of 10 starts, Sword Of State, a readymade two-year-old colt, blew his rivals away by six and a half lengths on debut over 1200 metres, bowed to subsequent 10-time Group One winning stable-mate Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) after contesting a hot pace, turned the Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) into a procession by emulating his debut winning margin (6.5 lengths), and raced clear to win the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) by three and a half lengths.

From a very fast family and a standout colt at the sales, Sword of State was the first foal from In the Vanguard, while Paravane is the third. 

Her sire, Merchant Navy, a fast son of Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill), was a triple Group One winner over 1200 metres (twice in Aust., and Royal Ascot) in a career of seven wins from 10 starts. 

A Coolmore shuttle stallion, Merchant Navy commenced stud duties in 2018. 

Paravane carries a Danehill cross through the sire line of Merchant Navy and dam-line of In The Vanguard. 

Paravane was strapped by Murala (Mali) Mallesh. 

Photo credit - Therese Davis - www.raceimages.co.nz