Mazzucato Rocks Riccarton

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson made a great start to the middle day of Cup Week at Riccarton, when Mazzucato (3 f Tivaci – Yellen, by Pentire) won the $65,000 3YO 1400 metres.

Stripped looking strong and polished, Mazzucato produced a massive performance to turn around her last start where she began awkwardly and was unsuited running home in more testing ground when contesting the Rating 65 1400 metres on 9 November at Ashburton. 

She had been going well prior and returned to winning form with aplomb.

Although a long way from the leaders when settling last of 14, Mazzucato received a nice drag behind race favourite Funfetti (Embellish) and got her measure with a powerful finish inside the furlong.

It was a cagey by Champion Jockey Michael McNab and another good effort by the filly to record her second win in this campaign.

“She’s let herself down recently by trying to sit down in the gates, but the (strong) tempo allowed it to be acceptable behaviour today and she was good late,” McNab said.

“It was tempo related, we run the biases all the time, but shows it’s fair to everyone.”

On course, Te Akau racing manager Reece Trumper said: “She was a little tardy out of the barriers, but Michael got her into a beautiful rhythm. I think the nose band coming off really helped her and with the shadow roll on she got her head down and relaxed nicely.

“Michael worked her into it nicely at the top of the straight and at the 300m I was very confident she was going to pick them up.”

In the race sponsored by Stephanie Murray Mortgages, on footing upgraded to Good4 after race one, Mazzucato ran 1400 metres in 1:23.3, last 600m in 34.5, and shortened in betting to pay $5.50 & $2.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a really good effort from a wide draw (13), a lovely ride of Michael’s, he timed it to perfection, and the team down the South Island are doing a great job,” Walker said.

“She didn’t get all favours last start, so it was really pleasing for the ownership group for her to win as well as she did. It indicates she can win more races.”

There to savour the moment, part-owner and racing identity David Archer was chuffed with the outcome.

“Some old workmates, and two of them are here, Steve Wing and Mike Gardner, were among half a dozen that said to me they had a bit of pocket money and wouldn’t mind a share in a horse,” Archer said.

“I rang Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) and she and David (Ellis) they suggested two yearlings - Tokyo Tycoon and Mazzucato, and these guys are thrilled as they’ve never been in thoroughbred ownership before.

“They’re having a grand time and what we’ve done instead of taking the money out that (Champion Two-Year-Old) Tokyo Tycoon has won we’ve gone back to the well and bought shares in Maracatu and a So You Think filly.”

Owned by Te Akau Honour Bright Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Mazzucato, a direct descendant of Easter Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Honor Bound (Honor Grades), was purchased as a yearling by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $120,000 at the Karaka 2022 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Carlaw Park. 

At the time of purchasing Mazzucato, Ellis said: “We were thrilled to be able to buy this beautiful walking filly.

“She’s a really nice three-year-old type, out of a Pentire mare that won four races, including three in a row in proper city class races in Melbourne, and the second dam left Alibi (Darci Brahma), a top horse in Singapore.”

There is plenty of quality on the dam side, with third dam Honor Bound (Honor Grades) winning the Easter Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m), impressing from 1200m – 1600m, before leaving eight individual winners as broodmare.

She carries bloodline crosses of top sires: Sadler’s Wells, Northern Dancer, and Danzig.

Mazzucato was strapped by Hannah Lowry. 

Photos credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz