Holyhead Wins Handsomely

Holyhead (3 f Pierro - Irish Sea, by Fastnet Rock) continued an incredible season for both trainer and rider when winning the $10,000 Stella Artois Maiden 1200 metres on Saturday at Ellerslie.

Champion Trainer last season, Jamie Richards raced to 100 wins in January, becoming the fastest in history by three months. The latest victory took his tally to 114 for the season, with 26 stakes wins in NZ and Aust., including eight Group Ones. While rider Danielle Johnson rose to elite levels with 1000 career wins during the week at Te Aroha, and her season tally of 124 is 72 clear of second. Simply outstanding and they are proving hard to beat.

From a handy position behind the leaders, Johnson sweated on run before being able to push clear at the 200m and Holyhead capped off with a determined finish to score by half a length.

Boasting a literal Champion pedigree, Holyhead won two of her three trials before racing and included a good performance back in September at Ellerslie, at her first outing.

She was swamped late after contesting a genuine pace on debut in December at Pukekohe, picked up very well for second in the Maiden 1200 metres on 7 January at Ruakaka, and given time (44 days) by Richards she appeared a top three chance.

Punters certainly embraced the opportunity, as she shortened from $3.10 to return $2.20 & $1.30 on the NZ TAB tote. On footing rated Dead4, she covered the 1200 metres in 1:11.8.

“I was really pleased with the way she won,” Richards said. “She ended up in a great spot and aided by a lovely ride from Danielle.

“She had been going quite keenly in her work, with a view to 1400 metres, so glad we waited, scratched off a wide draw on Wednesday at Te Aroha, and came to this race which was added to the programme.

“She's been a slow maturing filly that has needed time to strengthen and Michael Smith and Michael Wallace have allowed us to give her the time required.

“She is a filly of good ability, with a lovely pedigree, and after a confidence boasting win it wouldn't be a surprise to see her work through the grades. A touch awkward in her action, she seems best right-handed and we will stick to that in the meantime.

“The team at the Middle Barn is doing a great job with her, and Sam Bergerson is up there and doing a wonderful job at Ellerslie.”

In training for owner/breeder China Horse Club (red, yellow stars), she is by Pierro (Lonhro), a Champion First, Second, and Third Season Sire in Australia. Pierro only ever ran in stakes races, winning 11 of his 14 starts. The unbeaten Triple Crown winner as a two-year-old amassed $4.5 million and had yearling progeny reach $1.5m in the sales ring. He has already sired horses to win 52 stakes races, including six individual Group One winners. Dam Irish Sea, by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill), was a winner over 1100 metres in Australia.

China Horse Club had a perfect start to their association with Te Akau Racing, when Richards trained Sasso Corbaro (All Too Hard) to win impressively first-up at Otaki, in 2019, after she had previously raced in Australia.

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM said: “It's an honour to train horses for the China Horse Club, a real privilege. It's a powerhouse in world racing and has already reached and experienced the pinnacle of international racing with Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy).

“It's a fantastic organisation that does everything really well, race horses globally, and it's incredible the success the Club has had.”

Holyhead was strapped by Sumeet Pillay.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz