Three Riccarton Wins - Fashion Shoot Group 3 Supermodel

In a performance that required seeing to be believed, Fashion Shoot (6 m Savabeel – High Fashion, by O’Reilly) won the $120,000 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on the middle day (15 Nov.) of Cup Week at Riccarton.

Egging the mare on with gusto from the stand, breeder Rick Orr, who with wife Debra has a share in Fashion Shoot, could not believe his eyes.

“She must have been 20 lengths from the leader, last, and I gave her no chance but when I saw her coming through and getting clear air I knew she’d win from about 200m out,” he said.

“Unbelievable, it was a massive finish, what a performance and what a ride by Warren (Kennedy) at his first sit on her, and I think she can win a Group One.

“It’s a big thrill for us. We’ve stuck with her all the way and she’s had a lot of bad luck in stakes' races. She was third in this race last year.

“You’ve got to be a good horse to come from that far back over 1400 metres. To ride her like that, into the (easterly) head wind in the straight and to come from that far back, she had to sprout wings.”

Winning twice and twice Group Three placed last season, Fashion Shoot resumed with a super win in the Rating 75 1200 metres on 9 September Hastings, before being solid without really quickening on soft ground in the Open Handicap 1200 metres on 21 October at Trentham.

On Good4 footing, Fashion Shoot ran 1400 metres in a slick 1:21.9, last 600m in 34.1, and drifted substantially in betting to pay $10.30 & $3.30 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a great ride of Warren’s,” said co-trainer Mark Walker. 

“We were scratching our heads a little bit after Trentham, but I think it was just the soft track that day. 

“We decided to stick to our guns and continue on to Christchurch for this race and I’m very pleased for the owners that we did.

“The owners have been patient, well rewarded today, and she really put paid to them. 

“She’s maturing and next start she’ll run the TAB Classic, the old Captain Cook Stakes, at Trentham, and as long she gets a firm track I think she’ll give it a good shake.”

The $400,000 TAB Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m), at weight-for-age, is contested on Saturday 9 December at Trentham. 

Having her third trip to Riccarton, after getting through to contest the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on the course as a three-year-old, Fashion Shoot has won six times, earned $260,000 prize money, and now as a stakes' winner has increased her residual broodmare value tenfold. 

A beautifully put together filly, owned by the Te Akau In Vogue Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn-Fenton Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $320,000, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the NZB 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale. 

Fashion Shoot is by eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), a Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) winning three-year-old and Australasian sire sensation, who recently surpassed his grandfather, Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor), for the number of stakes winners, and now second to his father, Zabeel (Sir Tristram), as leading stakes producing stallion in New Zealand. 

Her dam, High Fashion (O’Reilly), was an immensely talented race mare with a terrific turn of foot, winning four races including the prestigious Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m), and Lowland Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m).

“It’s quite incredible how much she’s matured physically between five and six-years-old and it’s showing in her performances,” Ellis said.

“It’s a tribute to the way our staff at the farm (Te Akau Stud) and stable handle these horses that they can race and perform as young horses and still win black type as six-year-olds, and also a tribute the toughness of New Zealand bred horses.

“That’s as good a win as we’ve seen by any horse all season, coming from two lengths last in a field of 16.

“It’s very important for a mare like her to win a stakes' race and now she’s done it. She’s exceptionally well bred and is a highly commercial proposition. 

“It was a beautiful ride by our premiership leading jockey (Warren Kennedy), who is working so hard and putting in a lot of miles. 

“It’s been a great day for the stable, winning three races from five runners, and having a fourth and finishing second in the Coupland’s Mile (Gr. 3, 1600m), to make it 58 wins for the season and 11 stakes' wins between New Zealand and Australia.

“Just look at the good stake money we’re racing for today and the industry needs to give Entain, which is partnering the TAB, a massive pat on the back. It's turned this industry around and it’s now one of the most exciting businesses to be involved with in New Zealand.

Race sponsor Windsor Park Stud was represented by Stud Master Rodney Schick, who said in his address: “To the Te Akau team, unbelievable again. DC (David Ellis), Mark (Walker), Sam (Bergerson), Reece (Trumper), they do such a good job with their horses and looking after owners and keeping them informed.

“We’ve got some great clients of ours involved in the ownership, so congratulations to them too, and it’s great to be here and to be part of Cup Week.”

Fashion Shoot was strapped by Hannah Lowry. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz