Family Ties Timely RTR Reminder

Bringing good form, Family Ties (3 f Contributer - Glamazon, by Pins) capitalised on a patient ride by Te Akau Champion Apprentice Joe Kamaruddin to win the Maiden 3YO 1300 metres on 13 November at Hastings.

Having produced a very good debut effort for third in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 21 September at Matamata, won by stable-mate Wild Night (Vanbrugh) who subsequently completed a hat-trick in the Sarten Memorial (Gr. 2, 1400m), Family Ties was given time (53 days) by trainer Mark Walker. She had lifted strongly in the interim for second in a trial on 3 November at Matamata, and appeared ideally placed to rate a top three chance.

Shuffled back before tracking up three wide inside the 800m, Family Ties was clear to challenge in the straight and sustained a strong finish in centre track to score comfortably.

On Soft7 footing, in the race sponsored by Famers Transport/Hatuma Lime, Family Ties ran 1400 metres in 1:20.1 and given her form the $4.50 & $1.80 NZ TAB tote price seemed generous.

“It was a nice win and I think she has good staying potential to get over a lot more ground,” Walker said.

“We're having a fair bit of luck with the progeny by the young sire Contributer and we really like him as a stallion.”

In the past week, Te Akau celebrated wins by Contributer (High Chaparral) mares Campionessa (below), who won the Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2500m), and dominant Maiden winner Elounda, both products of Mapperley Stud.

The win was due reward for both the stable and Kamaruddin, after between them placing a day earlier with Invincibeel (Savabeel), Brando (Savabeel), Pin Me Up (Pins), Kai (Ocean Park), and Prise De Fer (Savabeel) - second in the Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m) - with Kamaruddin aboard the latter three.

From a very good family, Family Ties was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $60,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud, and owned by Denise Bassett & John Elstob, Duck Duck Goose Syndicate, Glenn & Catherine Holmes, and Gilbert Southworth.

“We thought she was very good value at the Ready to Run Sale,” Ellis said.

“We've been impressed by the stock of Contributer, and the stallions on her dam-side: Pins, O'Reilly, and Star Way are top all-round sires.

“She's got a great team of owners and made a really good start to her racing career.”

Contributer was a dual Group One winner to 2000 metres in Australia, while the dam of Family Ties, Glamazon, is by Champion Broodmare Sire Pins (Snippets). Grand-dam Glitzy (O'Reilly) won the Rotorua Stakes (Listed, 1400m) among nine wins, and left four winners of 18 races including Group Three placed Glintz, a sister to Glamazon.

The win also served as a good advertisement for horses purchased by Ellis at the Ready To Run Sale, including the likes of Group One winners Gingernuts (Iffraaj), Hall of Fame (Savabeel), and Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle), as well as Singapore Polytrack Horse of the Year Flying Fulton (Flying Spur).

Other RTR/Te Akau success stories include stakes' winners Amalfi Prince (Sebring), Brando (Savabeel), Star of Bombay (Atlante), Royal Success (Savabeel), and other multiple winners Burgundy Rose (Burgundy), Ragamuffin (Belardo), Shezathinka (So You Think), and Phantom Witness (Star Witness).

The New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale is getting ready for action on 16 & 17 November at Karaka.

Family Ties was strapped by Zoe Ashworth.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz