Pure Imagination Perfect on Debut

Well related colt Pure Imagination (3 c Darci Brahma - Granadilla, by Encosta de Lago) made an auspicious start to his racing career with victory in the $15,000 NZB Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series 3YO #1 1200 metres on Foxbridge Plate Day at Te Rapa.

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the 2020 Karaka Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Lilywhites Lodge, Pure Imagination is by Champion five-time Group 1 winning stallion Darci Brahma (Danehill), whom Ellis also purchased, while dam, Granadilla, by Champion Broodmare Sire Encosta de Lago (Fairy King), is a half-sister to former stable-mate and Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) winner Lilikoi (Charm Spirit).

Faced with an awkward draw (9), but in the hands of experienced rider Jonathan Riddell, Pure Imagination was made to work in the early stages before cruising to lead at the 800m. Able to dictate thereafter and travelling best turning for home, the colt was never in danger and looked good in his action when stretching out.

Paying generously on the NZ TAB tote ($6.20 & $1.90), he ran the 1200 metres in 1:12.6 on footing upgraded to Dead6 after race one.

“He's a really nice colt and it was a good win,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “Dave (Ellis) paid a fair bit for him at the Ready to Run Sale and labelled him as the closest resemblance he'd seen to Darci Brahma for some time.

“He's needed time to strengthen up and get everything together, and we've tried to do the right thing by him.

“Everyone at the Colt Barn has done a good job with him. We've got a really good crew of staff that are putting in the hard yards and I'm very proud of the way the team is functioning.

“Jonny (Riddell) rode him well. We thought he'd have to be up on speed - Te Rapa, early in the day - so we took bad luck out of the equation with a good positive ride.

“He's a horse that's open to a lot more improvement and hopefully he's a colt that can progress forward to black type age group races for the three-year-olds. We'll take a couple of days to think about it, but we'd like to get him to the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) if possible.”

Carrying a cross in his sire-lines of immortal stallion Northern Dancer, through Danehill, the sire of Darci Brahma, and Champion Broodmare Sire Encosta de Lago, the colt looked the spitting image of his sire when getting into his work at the Breeze Ups.

From the same family, Te Akau also trained Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) winner and Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) placed filly Lilikoi (Charm Spirit), owned and bred by New Zealand Bloodstock and Pencarrow Stud owner Sir Peter Vela.

“I thought he was one of the nicest Darci Brahma's I'd ever seen at Karaka, and decided to buy him,” Ellis said. “He's typical of the good Darci's and a bloody nice horse.

“It was a beautiful mating, over an Encosta de Lago mare. He's a champion broodmare sire and we've had a lot of luck both with horses by him, like Princess Coup and Costa Viva, and as a broodmare sire with colts like Sword of State (Snitzel).

Raced by the Te Akau Imagine That Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) he was purchased by Ellis from the Karaka Ready to Run Sale for $350,000.

“We've got some new owners in the colt, plus a couple of our most loyal owners. Ben Kwok owns a quarter, and it's a great thrill for everyone.

“Jonathan (Riddell) rode him beautifully. He went on after being caught three wide and it was pretty obvious at the corner that he had the field covered. He's a very professional jockey and a really good person.”

“They ran reasonable time (1:12.6) and it's great to see the track upgraded. Butch Castles is an outstanding CEO of the Waikato Racing Club. He's got a fantastic team around him and the track manager, Bart Cowan, is a champ. It's freakish what he's done with the track and it's racing beautifully.”

Pure Imagination was strapped by Reece Trumper.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz