Saturday Double - A Charming Rose

Continuing in the winning vein, Charmrose (5 m Charm Spirit – Sovereign Rose, by Pins) took out the $40,000 Rating 75 1200 metres on Saturday at Tauranga, for local farmers and owners Dave & Nicky Hurst. 

Having kept going strongly after leading to win when resuming in the Rating 65 1100 metres on 18 October at Ellerslie, Charmrose adopted similar tactics and the talented mare brought the right record to rate a top three chance up in grade.

Making the pace on the course at Tauranga often meets with success, as demonstrated in the race beforehand by stable-mate When Stars Align (Zoustar) who delivered fresh-up in the Rating 65 1200 metres.

Charmrose began swiftly from barrier four to lead for former Te Akau apprentice Wiremu Pinn, always appeared in control and shook off her closest rivals turning for home before establishing a winning break. 

On Soft6 footing, in the race sponsored by Tauranga Hardware & Plumbing, Charmrose ran 1200 metres in 1:11.5, last 600m in 35.0 (approx.), and shortened from an earlier $13.00 & $3.90 quote to pay $8.70 & $2.60 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was another really good win by the mare and good to keep the winning streak going for Dave and Nicky,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“She was very well rated in front by Wiremu (Pinn) and she’s come of age as an older mare. She can be a handful in track work, but our riders have got her well under control and she’s in great form.”

Bred and owned by Dave & Nicky Hurst, and now the winner of three races, Charmrose is out of Sovereign Rose (Pins), who was purchased for them by David Ellis CNZM as a yearling at Karaka, and she won four times from 1600m – 2100m in her career.

Like Charmrose, Sovereign Rose recorded her first win as a four-year-old and carried on winning until she was six.

Sovereign Rose is from Pavan (Centaine), who finished second to million-dollar earner Tycoon Lil (Last Tycoon) in the 1998 Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), and also runner-up in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2000m). 

Pavan left seven individual winners of 31 races, including eight-time winner Yours (Van Nistelrooy), while also being a half-sister to talented stakes winning mare Felenic (Cape Cross).

The family has also left top Australian galloper Spacecraft (Star Way), winner of ten races.

“Dave and Nicky have been such loyal supporters of Te Akau for many years and they’ve bred a really up-and-coming mare in Charmrose,” Ellis said. 

“The first syndicate they came into was King’s Chapel, who won the equivalent race that is now the Karaka Millions, the 2000 Guineas, Telegraph, three Group One races, and was New Zealand Horse of the Year as well as Champion 3YO and Champion Sprinter Miler all that same season, before standing at stud.

“They were also in one of our Champion Two-Year-Olds, Maroofity, who also won three Group One races, and Costa Viva who won the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas and was named New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year.

“Charmrose shows that the cross has worked really well with the Windsor Park stallion Charm Spirit. Out of another mare, Seductive D’Oro, they’ve got a nice yearling by Sword Of State, who was a Champion Two-Year-Old for us and flying in his stud duties at Cambridge Stud, where he has a full book this breeding season.”

Charmrose was strapped by Rhiannon Smith. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz