Matamata Double - Desisting Daring

A half-brother to Te Akau bought and trained Group One winner Move To Strike (I Am Invincible), Cease And Desist (3 g Zoustar – No Evidence Needed, by Shamardal) won the $25,000 Maiden 1600 metres on 23 January at Matamata.

Spelled after racing once as a two-year-old, Cease And Desist sustained a strong finish for second after racing handily in the Maiden 1400 metres on 2 January at Tauranga, with stable rider Opie Bosson aboard, and the pair rated a top three chance. 

Settling rearward and last at the 600m, Cease And Desist worked into a gap at the 300m and kept winding up to deliver some deciding strides near the line. 

Although not really looking the winner until the concluding stages, such was poise and abilities of Bosson that he got over the line first. 

“It was a really good effort to get up and win and a good ride of Opie’s to get him balanced and he really lifted him over the line,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. “He’s been a bit of a frustrating horse and the key to it was the ride.

“He’s really starting to hit his straps now, Opie, seeing things unfold well ahead of him and his timing is good.

“He’s a horse with good galloping ability, but he got into the habit of trying to rush things and our track riders, they’re worldclass, and they’ve taught him to settle better. 

“The win should provide him the confidence to be able handle a rise in grade, and hopefully go on from here.”

In the race sponsored by Vaughan & Debbie Nowell – Bayleys Realestate, Cease And Desist ran 1600 metres in 1:37.8, last 600m in 36.1 (approx.) on footing upgraded to Soft7, and paid $3.80 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Owned by the Te Akau Closing Argument Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Cease And Desist was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $400,000 at the 2024 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, from the draft of Baramul Stud.

From the same stud, Ellis bought his half-brother Move To Stike (I Am Invincible) in 2023 at the Gold Coast, and he vindicated the impressiveness of a five-length debut victory when brilliantly winning the Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m).

By Australian reigning Champion Sire Zoustar (Northern Meteor), dam No Evidence Needed won six races – including four successively – from 1200m – 1600m, including the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill, and was twice Group One placed: one of those in the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville. 

She was regarded as a game big filly that possessed a good turn of foot, and to date left seven individual winners of 25 races, including Group 1 winner Move To Strike and Group 2 placed Discharged (Snitzel). 

Dam sire Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway), once third in the TRC Global World Sire Rankings, has left 26 Group One winners worldwide, and now establishing himself as a broodmare sire of the highest calibre. 

Shamardal is also the dam sire of Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), whom Ellis purchased as a yearling and the World Champion Sprinter and Horse of the Year won 10 Group One races. 

The second dam Generosa is by Group 1 Epsom Derby (2400m) winner Generous (Caerleon), who added plenty of impetus when standing in New Zealand, while the third dam is by legendary sire Danehill (Danzig). 

“He hasn’t been the easiest horse for the training team to prepare for racing, but it was good to see him knuckle down and win like he did,” Ellis said.

“He’s obviously very well related, being a half-brother to Move To Strike, and was a great looking colt as a yearling, so let’s hope he can keep progressing now with a win under his belt.

“The dam, No Evidence Needed, is a great producer and seeing this bloke win at a mile suggests he might stretch out over a bit further. He certainly found the line and there’s a bit of stamina on the dam side too.”

Cease And Desist carries bloodline crosses to two of the most influential stallions of all-time: Mr Prospector, and Danehill. 

Cease And Desist was strapped by Megan Ross. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz