Palamos Perfect on Debut

Well-educated and exhibiting a good action, Palamos (2 c Extreme Choice - Unrevealed, by Forest Wildcat) produced a decisive debut victory in the $22,500 NZB RTR Trainers Series 2YO 1000 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.

After winning both trials: quickening appreciably to win at Te Teko, and without being pressured at Avondale, Palamos received a lovely trip in fourth, nicely poised turning in, responded at the 200m when rider Troy Harris asked him to extend and he went clear over the concluding stages to win easily by two lengths. 

On Dead4 footing, Palamos ran the 1000 metres in 58.3, last 600m in 34.3, and justified his favouritism to pay $2.10 & $1.30 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Bought as a weanling by bloodstock agent Paul Willetts, from Newgate Farm, and prepared for sale by Courtney Howells at Ainsley Downs, Palamos was purchased as a yearling by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $85,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and owned by Mr. Edmund Wong.

Three races down into the new season in the north for two-year-olds and Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards has prepared all three winners: Quattro Quinta (Darci Brahma) at Ellerslie, Sophisticardo (Burgundy) at Avondale, and now Palamos, while Troy Harris combined on each occasion.

“This is the first horse we've started for Edmund Wong, who lives in Hong Kong, and it's a real honour to have horses in training for him,” Ellis said. 

“He emailed Karyn one day and asked me to buy a weanling for him. I had trouble deciding between three and he had me buy them all. Although not early two-year-olds, they are all showing something. I then bought this yearling, which he liked, and I recently bought the full-brother to Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther (Tavistock) for him and he also owns the mare.

“I bought this horse from the race sponsor New Zealand Bloodstock, and it's great to have Danny Rolston here representing the company. It's a significant win because every two-year-old race this season, in the north, has been won in our tangerine colours. It's certainly not easy to have trained all three two-year-old winners thus far because the competition is stiff and it just shows how well our young horses have been broken-in by Enzo and his team at the farm and further educated by Jamie and our team at the stable.

“We have a remarkable team working with our young horses and none more so than Troy (Harris), who has a special affiliation with young thoroughbreds. He is outstanding and is really doing a great job.

“It's a great achievement by Jamie (Richards) and we just love winning races at Te Rapa. The track is a credit to everyone involved and we have a great day in store. 

“It's also quite significant because our daughter Lydia (Roseby) is having her first day at Te Rapa for 10 years and brought the good luck back with her from England. It's very exciting for us to have her back permanently in New Zealand.”

Palamos provided the first winner for Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt), a dual Group 1 winning sprinter standing at Newgate Farm. The dam, Unrevealed (Forest Wildcat), won four races to 1400 metres in Japan, while Palamos sports a cross of Mr. Prospector on the dam sides of both Extreme Choice and Unrevealed.

“He's a horse that we've always liked, right from the first time he came through the stables, as a horse that would get up and going,” Richards said.

“He'd gone a couple of nice trials and was able to back that up with a debut win. I thought it was a good ride by Troy (Harris) - great education to be one out and one back like that - and he got over the top of them like a ready-made racehorse.”

Karaka Million 2YO eligible, Palamos earned valuable prize money ($13,050) towards the jewel in the crown of juvenile racing in New Zealand, and can be afforded the opportunity of a break before being set for the race in January at Ellerslie. 

“We've got time to back off him and get him ready for the Karaka Million,” Richards said. “The team at the Colt Barn has done a great job with him and he'll improve a bit further yet. 

“It's great to get a first-up winner for Edmund (Wong). He's a wonderful supporter and we cherish getting a good result like this for our owners. 

“We are also proud to achieve the first win for Extreme Choice, a promising young stallion, after being a good racehorse, and he stands with Henry Field at Newgate Farm - so good to get the first winner for him too.”

Palamos was strapped by Mette Mosebo.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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