The Kiss Seals Her Debut Win
7 December, 2022
A recent trial winner at Avondale, Sealed With A Kiss (3 f Tarzino - Postmans Daughter, by Postponed) recorded a dominant debut victory in the $14,000 Maiden 1200 metres on 7 December at Hastings.
Ridden in the trial by stable jockey Opie Bosson, who resumes from suspension on Saturday at Te Rapa, Sealed With A Kiss displayed the same tenacious qualities as her impressive winning dam and franked it first-up on race day.
After securing an economical trip midfield inner, Sealed With A Kiss found a timely out under jockey Sam Weatherley early in the home straight and pinned her ears back to reel in the leader.
It was a performance commensurate of a more race hardened competitor: showing tractability, quickening when asked to extend, and knowing where the line is.
It was also a performance that pleased nine-time Champion Trainer and Premiership leader Mark Walker.
“She's an exciting filly and that was a really good win, considering it was only 1200 metres and given her pedigree to go further,†he said.
“She's a big, scopey, filly with a bright future, that Dave (Ellis) bought at the Ready To Run Sale last year, and we'd like to think she could keep developing and stepping up to be an Oaks' contender.â€
In a race that, on paper, had strong form and even betting among the favourites, Sealed With A Kiss returned handsome dividends of $20.70 & $4.50 on the NZ TAB tote.
Winning by one and a quarter lengths, she ran 1200 metres in 1:11.6, last 600m in 34.8, in the race named 'Follow The Grand Tour Racing Festival'.
Owned by Te Akau Sent First Class Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Sealed With A Kiss was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $250,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, from the draft of Lilywhites Lodge.
She is by a Derby winner, out of a Counties' Cup winner: Tarzino (ex. Zarzino, by Zabeel), by Tavistock (Montjeu), who sired five international Derby winners, is a young sire that has quickly risen to prominence.
He commenced stud duties in 2017 at Westbury Stud, and already sired Queensland Oaks (Gr. 1, 2200m) winner and Champion 3YO Filly in Australia, Gypsy Goddess, along with South Australian Derby (Gr. 1, 2500m) winner Jungle Magnate.
As a racehorse, Tarzino competed against the best three-year-olds in Australia, winning the VRC Derby (Gr. 1, 2500m), his third win in his first six starts. He returned to finish second in the Australian Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), before victory in the Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m), and was named Champion 3YO Colt in Australia.
Postmans Daughter was runner-up three times over 1600 metres at Group One level, recorded Group Two and Group Three wins, among nine victories from 1200m - 2200m. She was one hell of a competitor.
Reflecting on the race, Ellis said: “It was a beautiful ride by Sam Weatherley. He rides quite a lot of work for Te Akau, even in the South Island, when he was down there he came and rode two or three each morning to help us out.
“We considered her one of the best fillies in the sale when we bought her at the Ready To Run Sale.
“She was light on her feet breezing up, had good size, scope and strength, and is bred to be a real Oaks' type.
“She's out of an incredibly tough race mare. Postmans Daughter was good enough, and showed her versatility, to win the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 3, 1200m), and extended out to win the Counties Cup (Gr. 2, 2100m), and only very good mares can do that.
“And we've kept a close eye on the progeny of Tarzino and believe he is a very promising young sire.â€
Ellis was also pleased with uptake of shares available in horses from the recently completed Ready To Run Sale at Karaka.
“We bought nine horses: three for Singapore, and six for New Zealand, and there is only 10% left in the American Pharoah gelding,†he added.
Sealed With A Kiss was strapped by Shaun Magee.
Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz
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