Prismatic Pounces Perfectly

Returning in good order, Prismatic (4 g Savabeel - Kaleidoscope, by Pins) recorded an emphatic second-up victory in the $30,000 Silverton Alexander Valuers Rating 65 1600 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.

Capping a hat-trick of seconds with success over 2200 metres in December at Awapuni, Prismatic ran the fastest last 600m (34.3) for third when resuming in the Rating 65 1400 metres on 25 April at Avondale, and took the necessary benefit from that outing.

From third last, under stable rider Opie Bosson, Prismatic travelled up under a hold to the 600m, before being presented wide on the track a furlong out, and powered home to win easing down by one and a half lengths. 

“He's probably best ridden like that and he'd probably get away with another mile in the next grade before stepping up in distance,” said Bosson, on the eve of being inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.

Bosson (42), the national record-holder with 91 Group Ones, will be honoured at the 2023 Inductee Dinner on Sunday at SkyCity Hamilton.

On footing that despite showers remained Heavy8, Prismatic ran 1600 metres in 1:40.2, last 600m in 36.2, and paid $6.00 & $2.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

“He's been doing a lot of schooling, feeling really good in himself and that was evident in the way he won,” said trainer Mark Walker.

“He's a brilliant jumper and we might have special plans for him in the future, something like the Warrnambool Jumps Carnival that went on this week in Victoria, but in the meantime he looks as though he could be in for a good winter.

“He's just coming of age and taken a little while to mature, but horses like him that are so consistent and try hard can take the next step once they strengthen a bit more.”

“The time off really helped him. He's got it all ahead of him and could have quite a bright future.”

Sharing in the ownership and on course to cheer him home, Gary and Maureen Donaldson also came up with the name.

“That was just like his mother (Kaleidoscope) winning at Ellerslie, when she came with a big finish from the back, and I was always hoping that would come out in him as well,” said Donaldson, introduced to horses by his wife, who came from a sport horse background, and whose great-great-grandfather was President of the Whangarei Racing Club.

Owned by Te Akau Prismatic Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $240,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Rich Hill Stud. 

By eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), Prismatic is from the family of 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and dual Group One winner Xtravagant (Pentire), who was also purchased by Ellis and now standing at stud in Australia. 

From a Pins (Snippets) mare, Prismatic is bred on the same cross as former stable-mate and reigning dual Horse of the Year Probabeel, who made history winning the Karaka Millions at two and three years of age and became a quadruple Group One winner. 

“We never get sick of being in this room (winners' circle) and I'd like to congratulate, firstly, the owners, and secondly, the Waikato Racing Club staff," said Ellis.

“What they've done, on a day like today with all the rain we had during the week, to see a good soft track that gave every horse a chance, it's an effort that should leave the Directors very proud of the staff.

“It's harder winning races at this time of the year, as the weather and tracks are changing, but we've tried hard today and Prismatic is our first winner.

“Mark has done a great job training this horse. He turned him out for a spell at the right time and he's shown in his two runs back that he's really appreciated it.”

Prismatic was strapped by Stephanie Hyde-Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz