Rotorua No.2 Winner - Amazing Aromatic

Following two seconds, Aromatic  (3 f Sacred Falls - Vickezzchardonnay, by Don Eduardo) broke through at her third start with an effortless victory in the $10,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden 1400 metres (eligible $11,500 bonus) on 18 March at Rotorua.

After charging home for second in the fastest last 600m (34.7) on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 27 January at Te Teko, she was strong again when narrowly defeated in the Maiden 1400 metres on 16 February at Gisborne, but no near miss on this occasion as she distanced her rivals.

Starting from the outside (7), in a field diminished by defections, Aromatic was last before being set-alight by Ryan Elliot approaching the home turn and she simply cantered home to win by six and a half lengths. 

While difficult to imagine the five-length margin victory by stable-mate Shezathinka (So You Think) in the first race on the programme would be surpassed, it certainly was.

“I was a little bit worried when he (Elliot) was back there, but he got on his bike nice and early and she really put a space in them,” said trainer Jamie Richards.

“She's a promising filly. We'd had a frustrating run of (wide) barriers, but had to go today and it all worked out nicely.

“She's always been very immature. We thought she might develop into an Oaks' filly, but it came round too quickly for her and she's got it all in front of her. 

“She was bred by Tony Rider, at Milan Park. He's a great breeder and retained a share in this filly after Dave (Ellis) bought her at Karaka. We've got some really good owners in her and I'm sure she's going to work her way through the grades.” 

Backed accordingly to return $1.70 & 1.30 on the NZ TAB tote, Aromatic ran the 1400 metres in 1:23.4. 

Interestingly, Elliot was also aboard stable-mate and recent Sacred Falls (O'Reilly) winner Vicenza on Sunday at Woodville. Both she and Aromatic were first crop of the ill-fated Waikato Stud stallion, after the Champion Three-Year-Old (up to 1600m) and quadruple Group One winner passed away late last year. 

Purchased by David Ellis for $160,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Milan Park, which also produced recent debut winning stable-mate High Achiever (Pins), Aromatic is owned by the Te Akau Sacred Wine Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). Her dam, Vickezzchardonnay, by the highest priced yearling to ever sell at Karaka - Don Eduardo ($3.6 million) (Zabeel) - was an impressive five-time winner from 1600m to 2100m. Aromatic is the fifth foal and third individual winner from the mare. 

Fifth in the 2008 New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) and second in the Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m) during her three-year-old season, Vickezzchardonnay went on to win the Taranaki Cup (Gr. 3, 2000m), finish third in the NZ Cup (Gr. 2, 3200m), and fourth in the Auckland Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m), Wellington Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m), Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), and Rotorua Cup (Gr. 3, 2200m), to show what a genuine mare she was.

Vickezzchardonnay is a half-sister to impressive winning race mare Fifty Fifty (Justice Prevails), who has left seven winners of 15 races including stakes performer Balham (Don Eduardo). 

“That was a huge win by the filly,” Ellis said. “It did look on the cards after the way she went in her first two starts, but you've still got to do it and she walked in. 

“Vickezzchardonnay was a very good grey mare and we were impressed with the stock of Sacred Falls in his first year at Karaka. This filly had all the pedigree and looks. She had a lot of quality about her, moved beautifully, was very correct, and she was a great buy.”

Aromatic was strapped by Tracy Collis.

“Shezathinka is from middle barn and Aromatic from uni barn,” said Collis, who strapped both. “Shezathinka has been a favourite of mine since she was a young horse and I had Aromatic, originally, at the main stable.

“Shezathinka is getting better, temperament wise, with time. She is easier to handle now, more tractable, and Aromatic has just taken time, physically. Jamie (Richards) has given her time, turning her out and bringing her back into work a few times and she's starting to fill into her frame now.

“They were both very well behaved and won easily today.”

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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