Matamata Double - Court of Appeal Dismisses Them

Bred to go further, Court Of Appeal (4 m Eminent – Katy O’Beel, by Zabeel) recorded an encouraging victory in the $18,500 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses) on 13 September at Matamata.

Unable to quicken on Heavy10 footing when resuming in the Maiden 1200 metres on 4 September at Matamata, Court Of Appeal presented in readiness for her second-up assignment.

Court Of Appeal had placed three times to 2000 metres in her first campaign, and from a staying type family she was aided by increased distance and improved footing.

Stable rider Opie Bosson turned the outside barrier (12) into a positive when sending Court Of Appeal forward to travel in second, challenged to lead on straightening, found a length when asked inside the 200m and won with plenty of fortitude. 

It was second time Bosson had ridden Court Of Appeal, having previously finished third in the Pearl Series Maiden 1600 metres last November at Te Aroha. 

“We did a bit of work to get outside the leader, but she gave a good kick in the end and gave me the feel that she’ll go further,” said Bosson, who also won five times on grand-dam Katy Keen (Zorro’s Lad). 

On Soft7 footing, Court Of Appeal ran 1400 metres in 1:27.5, last 600m in 38.1, and plummeted from an earlier fixed odds quote of $12.00 to pay $4.70 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

Purchased for $20,000 by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing from the Karaka 2022 Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Brighthill Farm, she is owned by Fortuna Court Of Appeal Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

On course with some of the owners, Galvin said: “Thank you to the sponsors, Entain and New Zealand Bloodstock. Gee, what a miracle Entain has been for New Zealand racing, in partnership the TAB, and thankfully we have averted a decline in stakes and instead seen some great increases.

“The guys and ladies from Entain are passionate about the racing industry, all own shares in horses, love a bet, and they’re real racing people.

“Marcus Corban is here in the winner’s circle, and he helped us buy her at the sales with David (Ellis) and Mark (Walker).

“I’d asked them to pick out a staying type filly from Book 2, and I was prepared to go to $80,000 for this filly, but we did well and got her for $20,000.

“She showed a lot of promise last season and well done to Mark and Sam for giving her the time.

“I thought, today, if she was running third or fourth and finishing on I’d be really happy, but the fact that she’s won, after being used up quite a bit early, holds her in good stead as she gets over more ground.

“Opie, what can I say, another genius ride to bounce her out and get her up on the speed.” 

Brighthill Farm stallion Eminent, a Group Two winner and dual Group One placed son of peerless racehorse and sire Frankel (Galileo) – currently leading the TRC Global Sires Rankings – was trained by Sir Mark Todd and owned by Sir Peter Vela.

From the first crop by Eminent, Court Of Appeal is out of a mare that won three times to 2200 metres, in turn from sensational mare Katy Keen (Zorro’s Lad), a Group Two and Group Three winner that won 10 times to 2500 metres.

Court Of Appeal is the second winner from Katy O’Beel, following Enright (Power), a three time winner to 2100 metres. 

“She’s so much stronger now, the owners have been patient, and it was a lovely ride of Opie’s,” Walker said.

“I said to John (Galvin) at the end of her last prep, if we give her a really good spell she’s got the makings of a nice stayer as a four-year-old.

“Sam (Bergerson) and I will take her along quietly through the early stages of this season, and eventually we’ll get her up in trip.”

Walker suggested Court Of Appeal could return to her home track on Matamata Cup Day (Saturday 5 October), for the Rating 65 1400 metres. 

Court Of Appeal was strapped by Rasheed Alam.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz