Group 3 Glory for Miss Aotearoa

Miss Aotearoa added to a significant day for Milan Park Stud owner/breeder Tony Rider when winning the $70,000 Hawkes Bay Breeders' Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Saturday at Hastings.

Earlier in the programme, Rider won the El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m) with debutante three-year-old filly Shezzacatch (Savabeel), trained by his good friend Guy Lowry, and the day got even brighter with victory by Miss Aotearoa in the prestigious race, and first in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.

Miss Aotearoa had been unbeaten in four trials before providing trainer Jamie Richards with his first winner this season on 12 August in the 3YO 1100 metres at Taupo, having finished fifth on debut to stable-mate and subsequent dual stakes winner Need I Say More (No Nay Never) in February at Matamata.

A filly that uses herself well, she had to overcome an awkward barrier (10) but despite racing wide throughout was still able to overpower her rivals in the straight. It was a very tough performance. 

“We had to do it the hard from a wide draw and covered extra ground the whole way, but she travelled brilliantly underneath me and to her credit she fought it out pretty tough,” said jockey Craig Grylls, who also rode Shezzacatch. “She's got a bright future ahead of her.”

Following in the footsteps of quadruple Group 1 winning stable-mate Avantage (Fastnet Rock), who won the Gold Trail in 2018, Miss Aotearoa ran the 1200 metres in 1:11.2 on Dead4 footing and returned 6.40 & 2.20 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Miss Aotearoa is set to join recent winning stable-mates Cornflower Blue (Savabeel) and Fashion Shoot (Savabeel) in the $300,000 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on New Zealand Cup Day (Saturday 14 November) at Riccarton.

“It's all in front of her, too,” Richards said. “She's got a big page and a really good sort, so looking forward to the future. 

“We'll take her home, give her a few days off and assess her. She's a filly for the future and we don't need to rush into racing her again in a fortnight or anything like that. 

“We'll probably look at the Soliloquy Stakes and then down to Riccarton, all going well. 

“I'd like to give a big thank you to Tony Rider, who's been a big supporter and lovely to reward him a stakes winning filly for his broodmare band. 

Racing in the In the Milan Park Stud colours, Miss Aotearoa is a half-sister to Matriarch Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) and dual listed winner Oceanex (Ocean Park), along with Group 3 and listed winner Amexed (Pentire), while race winning dam Danex (Danasinga), stemming from an Okawa Stud family, has now left 10 winners of 25 races.

Miss Aotearoa was strapped by Anna Jones. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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