Noverre Nails the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas

Greatly increasing his stallion stocks, Noverre (3 c Savabeel - Magic Dancer, by Rip Van Winkle) stormed home to win $500,000 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Saturday at Riccarton.

Backed ($1.90) as nigh unbeatable after clocking fastest last 600m (33.6) for second in 3YO 1400 metres and same again (34.4) when winning War Decree Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), both in October at Riccarton, Noverre was a steadfast public elect and duly delivered.

Providing Te Akau with its seventh 2000 Guineas and eighth for rider Opie Bosson (41), Noverre drew nine of 10 which dictated going back, but it mattered little in the final analysis.

From last on the inner, chasing a solid pace, Noverre tracked up behind runners inside the 600m, was across heels at the 350m and unleashed what in recent times has become his trademark grandstand finish.

Arresting the lead 100m out and powering clear to win by an increasing two and three-quarter lengths margin, Noverre ran the 1600 metres in 1:35.1 on Good3 footing.

“I was a little bit worried across the top when horses were going everywhere and I was trying to find something to track me into the race,” Bosson said. “They all came rolling back in and I had to get over their heels, but to the horse's credit what a powerful finish he had.

“It took me two furlongs to get him on the bridle, but he lobbed along beautifully and he's a class animal.”

Caught for a time under lockdown rules, Bosson added: “I probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for David Ellis, and he's been great to me.”

Noverre provided trainer Jamie Richards with his 48^thGroup 1 victory, and thirds 2000 Guineas after the first, Xtravagant (Pentire) and second Embellish (Savabeel), were recorded in partnership with Stephen Autridge in 2015 and 2017 respectively.

“It was a really impressive win,” said Richards, fresh from a record-breaking season and already notching his seventh stakes' winner in the new term.

“I said to Opie (Bosson), don't panic, I don't want you to the outside at the 700 metres and he was really explosive when he got clear. He looks a pretty special colt, doesn't he?

“He was a beautiful yearling when Dave (Ellis) bought him. He paid a bit of money, but he had the pedigree and the looks. A little bit backward as a two-year-old and needed time to strengthen up, but the team has done a really good job and his improvement throughout the spring has been very encouraging.

“I'd like to extend a big thank you to the team back at home and the team down here (Riccarton), Sam Bergerson and Lydia Truesdale have done a wonderful job and he presented in really good order.

“Also a big shout-out to Dave and Karyn and the family, that while unable to be here will be celebrating and enjoying a special day.”

Richards said Noverre had earned a break and after travelling home was entitled to spend time eating grass at Te Akau Stud.

“He'll be set for the Karaka Million 3YO Mile (Restricted Listed, 1600m) in January and after that we'll have to see where we end up. He's a really exciting colt and it will be interesting to see where he stands.

“He's a stunning colt and with Waikato Stud we've enjoyed so much success with these Savabeel's.”

Purchased for $800,000 by David Ellis CNZM at 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from draft of Waikato Stud, owned by Te Akau 2020 Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). By the ultimate champion stallion Savabeel (Zabeel), the dam side of Noverre features super sire Galileo (Sadler's Wells), sire of Rip Van Winkle, with grand-dam Dazzling Belle being by Desert Sun (Green Desert), who sired winner of 13 Group 1 races Sunline.

Noverre is the first foal from Magic Dancer (Rip Van Winkle), who figured among the top echelon of two-year-olds when racing in 2014-15. As a two-year-old, Magic Dancer coasted home to win the Phoenix Park Classic (Gr. 3, 1200m).

Retaining a healthy share in the colt, breeder Garry Chittick was elated with the performance.

“I'm very excited by the win and thought it was an amazing performance,” Chittick said. “He did everything possible to get beaten. When he got tangled up behind the mob, I thought ‘geez, you're in trouble' but he was good enough to overcome it. He's such a lovely horse.

“Rogey (Graeme Rogerson) sold me the mare off the track. We had a bit of bad luck the first year, getting caught up in a fence, and she never got in foal. So, we missed then and Noverre is her first foal.

“The second foal went to Sydney and didn't make as much as he should of, but the Savabeel's are sometimes quite hard to sell over there.

“This year I've got an outstanding colt, as good as Noverre, which is ready for sale. She's had another colt, and served two days ago, so four colts in a row and we could do with a filly, hopefully.

“I'm really excited to have kept ownership in Noverre and my good mate Gary Wallace has a share, too, so he's happy.

“Right from the word go I wanted to stay in the colt and didn't actually want to sell him. But good on DC (David Ellis) for buying him, and I'm lucky to have my share and get part of the winning stakes as well.

“He was an outstanding yearling colt and you couldn't fault him, really. He's extremely well balanced and just a stunning horse. He had everything and he's grown more than I thought he would and might stand presently around 16.1hh. He's everything you'd want in a horse.

“He's flourished down there at Riccarton, on a big track, and he was very impressive. Honestly, I thought the race would be tighter than it was. I don't think in any way was it a gimme field and there was some good horses in there, but I think he was just too good.

“We hope that one day he would finish up back here (standing) at Waikato Stud, it would be fantastic.”

Overseeing Te Akau Racing, David Ellis put the victory right on top of an illustrious pedestal.

“I honestly think with everything that's going on around the world at the moment that this is possibly the greatest thrill I've had in racing, especially seeing him win as well as he did,” Ellis said.

“We've got so many great owners in this colt. They've all rung in congratulating me and I'm extremely proud to have them all involved.

“It's such a great feeling to see people invest in a colt like this and get to experience the thrill of winning such a prestigious Group 1 race. They've backed me at the sales and we cannot do this without them.

“When you buy these expensive colts, you're under pressure from day one and Jamie (Richards) has done a great job overseeing his preparation and getting him to this stage.

“Our assistant trainer Sam Bergerson has been looking after him for the past two months and he, along with Lydia Truesdale and a great team at Riccarton, has done an outstanding job. The horse paraded looking fantastic and he's raced accordingly.

“It's quite incredible the success we've had buying horses from Waikato Stud, and the support that Garry and Mark Chittick have given us. What great breeders they are, and the way that Jamie trains these Savabeel's is quite incredible and it's a great combination.

“A month ago, Opie (Bosson) was struggling to get his weight in check and to see the commitment he's undergone to get back into what he does brilliantly, riding horses, is both emotional and exciting for me.

“He was apprentice to me at Te Akau and he's come back today and ridden this colt so well. We've been through a lot together and I'm just so proud of him.

“I'm so proud of my entire team. They're all under a lot of pressure, they work so hard, start at 3.15 in the morning and these people deserve all the success they get.

“It's a stallion making race. Look at our other class colts in Darci Brahma, King's Chapel, Rock ‘n' Pop, Xtravagant, Embellish, and now Noverre - colts that have won the 2000 Guineas for us and gone on to become stallions, and you'd have to say that Noverre would not be out of place among them.

“We also won the 2000 Guineas with Tell A Tale too but of course he was a gelding.

“It's the twelfth Guineas race we've won at Riccarton, and it would have to stand as one of the biggest thrills I've had in my career. I've never been so happy.”

Noverre was strapped by Sumeet Pillay.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz