Sophisticardo Simply Super

From last to first, Sophisticardo (4 g Burgundy - Glamorous Girl, by Thorn Park) bombarded his rivals in the $30,000 Property Brokers Feilding Rating 75 1200 metres on Saturday at Awapuni.

Third up in this preparation, having clocked the fastest last 600m (33.6) on the day when finishing second in the Rating 75 1100 metres on 12 October at Avondale, Sophisticardo recorded his third win and took his earnings to near $100,000 for owners in the Te Akau Glammed Up Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

It was the third time that Sophisticardo had won in the month of October, having first done so in stylish manner on debut in 2020 at Avondale, engulfing his rivals in 2021 at Taupo, and similar fashion on this occasion.

Up to the best of age at two and three, Sophisticardo recorded a notable fourth to stable-mate On the Bubbles (Brazen Beau) in the 2021 Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m).

After smoking his pipe out the back, and suited by a genuinely competitive pace, Te Akau Champion Apprentice Joe Kamaruddin was across heels to the outside of runners mid-straight and Sophisticardo was up to the task of flying home for victory.

On Good4 footing, Sophisticardo ran 1200 metres in 1:11.3 and paid $6.80 & $2.10 on the NZ TAB tote.

“The race set up perfectly and he's been more relaxed since we've taken the blinkers off,” said trainer Mark Walker.

“He's finding a real turn of foot at the business end and you'd think he could win more races off that run.”

From a smart race mare, Sophisticardo was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $30,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud. Ellis also purchased five-time stakes' winning stallion Burgundy (Redoute's Choice).

“He's always been a good horse and his last two runs have indicated that he's returning back to his best,” Ellis said.

“It's always a thrill when progeny of Burgundy wins and we had such a great season with his Te Akau homebred fillies Belle En Rouge winning Filly of the Year and the Group 1 NZ Oaks and Maven Belle crowned Champion Two-Year-Old last season, also winning the Manawatu Sires at Group 1 level.

“Burgundy was probably the fastest horse we have trained and horses like Sophisticardo are doing a good job carrying it on.”

His dam, Glamorous Girl (Thorn Park), impressed winning over 1400 metres before scoring in the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m). She was runner-up in the Soliloquy Stakes (Listed, 1400m) and the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m). Successful as a broodmare, she has now left seven individual winners of 20 races.

Sophisticardo carries a cross of breed shaping stallion Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor), on the dam sides of both Burgundy and Glamorous Girl.

Sophisticardo was strapped by Olivia Clayton-Collis.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz