Hawkes' Bay Winning Double - Byzantine Bold

A two-year-old winner now hitting his straps again, Byzantine (4 g Savabeel - Baradevi, by Volksraad) recorded a richly deserved victory in the $11,000 Roger Brittin Memorial Rating 72 1200 metres on 11 December at Hastings.

Unlucky when denied a run in the corresponding event on the course two starts ago (10 November), he continued good form with a strong second in the Rating 72 1100 metres on 27 November at Rotorua, and now won three of his 10 starts for the Te Akau 2017 Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). 

In a race that appeared it might pan out to suit, Byzantine steadied off the outside gate (7), tracked up nicely rounding the home turn and showed a good turn of foot to reel in the pace making Maria Dior (Rip Van Winkle).

Ridden by Danielle Johnson, Byzantine was rightly backed into favouritism, paying $3.50 & $2.30 in a race offering only two place dividends, and ran the 1200 metres in 1:11.4 on Dead4 footing.

“It was a good win and very well ridden by Danielle (Johnson),” said trainer Jamie Richards. “He can be a bit naughty in the barrier, but got away cleanly, stalked the pace, got to the outside and finished off well.

“He's not a horse to win by big margins, but he certainly looked pretty good picking up the leader and should be ready for a step to 1400 metres. 

“We're pleased with him, after being somewhat of a handful with little issues, including a (heart) fibrillation, but the team of owners has been very patient and looks like he could go on with it now. 

“The team has done a great job with him as he's not the easiest, so Scott (Lucock) and Mette (Mosebo) in the colt barn and work riders deserve a lot of the credit.”

By five-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), from a classy family bred by Jim Barlow, Byzantine was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $200,000, from the draft of Little Avondale Stud, at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

“He was bred by Jim Barlow, a really top breeder and Byzantine is from his famous family. It's a classy family and proved before that it can leave a two-year-old to train on,” Ellis said.

“It's terrific for the owners, as they've had to be patient with this horse and haven't had a lot of luck. A few setbacks after he showed good ability when winning and stakes' performed at two, but sometimes it can take time to recapture their best after things don't quite go to plan. 

“He's a horse that shows the talent to quicken, which most of the family have had, and it takes a horse along way when they're right. I think he's still got plenty of improvement in him. He won well in May and should have probably won here two starts ago. 

“He was beautifully ridden by Danielle (Johnson) and a horse that is very well suited by a left hand whip rider. 

His grand-dam, Sharvasti (Montjeu), won the Avondale Cup (Gr. 1, 2200m) and finished second in two other Group One races. Third dam, Vedodara (Kreisler) won the Hawkes Bay Guineas (Listed, 1400m) and finished fourth in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m).

Through the same draft (Little Avondale Stud), Barlow is offering a brother (Lot 451) to Byzantine in January at the Karaka 2020 Book 1 Sale. 

Byzantine was strapped by Trevor Stewart.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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