Te Rapa Double - Maracatu Karaka Millions Bound
3 December, 2023
Displaying plenty of resolve, Maracatu (2 g Ardrossan – Cortado, by Sepoy) justified favouritism in the $25,000 Majestic Horse Floats Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.
Doing well off a torrid run to finish fourth on debut to subsequent Counties Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m) winner Velocious (Written Tycoon) in the 2YO 1000 metres at the same venue on 11 November, and having lifted appreciably to grab a trial win prior, also at Te Rapa, Maracatu appeared hard to beat from barrier one and duly obliged.
Confronted with a pace tussle, rider Warren Kennedy steadied to trail aboard Maracatu, pinched a rails run passing the 200m and had the wood on pacemaker Montana Bay (Thunder Down Under) to score narrowly but well.
Finishing third in the race, stable-mate Sister Ping (Street Boss) did a good job on debut in the Trelawney Stud colours.
“The form line was very, very strong and although not really a sprinter, well done to the guys for putting blinkers on him,” Kennedy said.
“He’s easy going and I had to get hard on him to put the effort in, and he responded to that.
“I was biding my time but the horse in front of me was pretty green, so I took my chances on the rail and it opened up for him.”
On Good4 footing, running 1100 metres in 1:05.1, last 600m in 35.7, Maracatu was strong in betting to pay $2.00 & $1.10 on the NZ TAB tote.
“He was well ridden and the one draw certainly helped,” said co-trainer Mark Walker.
“He’s a horse on the way up. We’ll give him a freshen-up and have one more run before he heads into the Karaka Millions 2YO, where he should be a live chance.”
Walker suggested Maracatu may contest the 2YO 1200 metres on 14 January at Ellerslie, before the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) at the same venue on 27 January.
Co-trainer Sam Bergerson added: “It’s a really good ownership group with plenty of first time owners and some of our loyal ones as well.
“He was really tractable, seemed to travel well, was good to see him take the gap on the inside and I think he would have learned a lot from it.
“Once we gelded him he became a lot more tractable and seems very natural, and when he trialled here Opie (Bosson) rode him and he said he’s a really nice horse.”
Owned by Te Akau Barista Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Maracatu was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $190,000 at the Karaka 2023 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud.
From the second crop of Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan (Redoute’s Choice), who made a cracking start to his stud career with three juvenile stakes' winners, Maracatu is out of two-year-old winner Cortado.
The dam side of the family, nurtured by Pencarrow Stud, has left horses with any amount of ability, with which Te Akau has had plenty of experience and includes homebred NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner and New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Belle En Rouge (Burgundy).
Grand-dam Macchiato (Night Shift), trained by Mark Walker, scored on debut by four and a half lengths over 1200 metres in January 2001 at Rotorua, before cementing her talent with four wins from only nine starts.
Walker also trained her impressive winning daughter Arpeggio (Tavistock) and, in turn, her daughter Top Note (Burgundy) who also impressed winning on debut.
A broodmare gem, Macchiato produced eight individual winners, including Arpeggio and Harb (Catbird), winner as a two-year-old in the Oaklands Plate (Listed, 1400m) amongst his four wins.
At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “He a cracking colt, really nice type, and we were pleased to secure him.”
Maracatu carries a Danehill cross through his sire lines.
Maracatu was strapped by Tanweer Alam.
Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz