Season Win No.90 - Stonybreck Superb

Date: 2 Jan 2023

Season Win No.90 - Stonybreck Superb

 

With form to rate somewhat a good thing, Stonybreck (3 g Tavistock - Fair Isle, by Fastnet Rock) won the $14,000 Rating 65 1400 metres on 2 January at Tauranga.

Setting a track record when winning on debut in August at Cambridge (poly-track), he was freshened after finishing second to stable-mate Kabugee (Satono Aladdin) in the 3YO 1215 metres on 16 October at Rotoura, and resumed coming from last for third in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 17 December at Te Rapa.

Drawn the ace, with Opie Bosson aboard, who won stakes' races aboard Te Akau stable-mates Trobriand (Kermadec), Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), and Campionessa (Contributer) on 1 January at Te Rapa, Stonybreck was allowed to find his feet in midfield, was five lengths off at the 600m, lurched clear on straightening and mowed them down to win easily by two lengths.

A talented individual with size, scope and quality, he appears destined for higher honours and could trek a path toward the $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) on 21 January at Pukekohe, and the $350,000 Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 18 March at Trentham.

“It was a good win today and he's a really nice progressive type of horse,” said trainer Mark Walker, after notching his 90thwin for the season.

“He relaxed beautifully today for Opie, so a good strong win and I expect him to go on with it.

“Dave (Ellis) picked him up for a bargain at Karaka, and he's just getting better as he matures.”

In the race sponsored by New World Mount Maunganui, Stonybreck ran 1400 metres in 1:24.1, last 600m in 35, on footing that upgraded to Good4, and as favourite he paid $2.50 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

Stonybreck was purchased for $20,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and is owned by the Te Akau Northern Scotland Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“He was a bargain from a really good Pencarrow Stud family of Sir Peter Vela, and is beautifully bred,” Ellis said.

“I thought he was a nice horse and if you're patient sitting there at Karaka sometimes you can get them under the guard of others.

“We bought horses like Wild Night for $50,000 and I think the $57,500 we paid for Melody Belle is etched in a few minds forever.

By Tavistock (Montjeu), a noted sire of international Derby winners, adding terrific quality to the New Zealand stallion ranks, Stonybreck is from a mare by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill) that won over 1600 metres in Australia.

Stonybreck has a mouth-watering dam line: grand-dam Miss Scarlatti (Stravinsky) won a listed race and also strung together second placed finishes in the Norman Robinson (Gr. 3, 2000m), Wakefield Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), and VRC Oaks (Gr. 1, 2500m) in the space of three starts as a three-year-old.

Her half-sister, Abidewithme (Redoute's Choice), was trained by Te Akau to record nine wins, including the Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), Tauranga Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m), and was three times Group One placed.

Third dam Crimson (Zabeel), an impressive winner and Third Top Filly on the NZ 3YO Free Handicaps, was trained by Jim Gibbs before transferring to Bart Cummings during the latter stages of her career.

Crimson went on to produce outstanding form through the spring, winning the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 3, 1600m) and finishing second in the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m), before victory in the Grosvenor Championship Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m) at Ellerslie.

Crimson left winners of fourteen races, while her dam, Bourbon Lassie (Mellay) also produced the stallion Omnicorp (Grosvenor).

Commenting on the three stakes' wins a day beforehand at Te Rapa, Ellis said: “We all enjoyed a fantastic day that saw Mark (Walker) gain his 15thblack type win, with prize money won for owners over $3.2 million, and we're not even half-way through the season.

“We're just lucky to have so many top staff and even though it's Christmas and New Year holidays for so many people the racing team are working early every morning and give us their heart and soul.”

Stonybreck was strapped by Ashley Handley.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

Back

Sign up to our newsletter