Waikato Winning Double - Hayate Horsepower
Date: 16 Aug 2023
Given a perfect trip by Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar, Hayate (5 m Maurice – Vamoose, by Admire Moon) won the $17,000 Cambridge Equine Hospital Rating 60 1550 metres on 16 August at Cambridge (poly-track).
Finding the heavy ground too testing in the depths of winter, most recently over 1560 metres on 5 July at Rotorua, Hayate had a break of 42 days between runs and displayed plenty of fresh vigour in her performance.
Drawn the ace, Hayate was advantaged immediately when two horses ahead of her entered into a tussle for the lead while she sat third. The race still looked open when she ranged among a group turning for home, but the persuasion of Parmar saw her draw clear over the final furlong to score easily.
Winning by two and a quarter lengths, Hayate paid $4.90 & $2.30 on the NZ TAB tote.
Very consistent trialling on the poly-track at Cambridge, including a smart win, more was expected when she first raced there on 31 May, but being back and wide from an outside gate (11) nullified her chances.
“It was a lovely win and well ridden by Parmar,” said co-trainer Mark Walker, who with Sam Bergerson celebrated their first win together with Cote de Beaune (Burgundy) on 2 August at Cambridge.
“It gives us more options with her going forward, knowing that she can handle the synthetic track at race tempo and I think she’s a mare that should also cope getting over more distance, especially being that little bit stronger in this preparation.”
A winner on debut in May 2022, Hayate recorded her third victory for owners in the Fortuna Hayate Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), having been purchased for $80,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Mapperley Stud.
“The race plan from that draw (1) was to try and hold the rail, but obviously the first two were pretty keen to get on with the job and Parmar did the right thing, he eased, got her nicely settled, had her off the rail before the (home) turn, was in a position to challenge and she was too strong for them,” Galvin said.
“She looked ready to race well and Rating 60 does suit her. She’s won in the same grade before and just looking for a decent surface, I think, and the synthetic provided that.
“She blew them away in a trial here previously, blinkers off today was the training masterpiece, allowed her to relax a bit more and got the job done really well.
“She’ll be up in grade now and it will be a matter of deciding what the right trip in Rating 65 will be for her.”
At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “The dam, Vamoose, is a half-sister to the Caulfield Cup (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Admire Rakti (Heart’s Cry). It’s some of the best blood in the world and Maurice was a champion racehorse.”
By an Arrowfield shuttle stallion, Maurice (Screen Hero) was the 2015 Japanese Horse of the Year, Champion Sprinter and Champion Miler, and now one of the hottest young sires in Japan.
Fortuna Racing reached the pinnacle with former star stable-mate Melody Belle (Commands), a dual Horse of the Year and domestic record-holder with 14 Group One win, and were recently represented by Bellatrix Star (2 f Star Witness – Alana’s Party, by Exceed and Excel) at the trials.
Ellis purchased Bellatrix Star for $80,000 as a yearling at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Phoenix Park, and she let down strongly under minimal urging to win her first trial on 1 August at Te Rapa.
“She blew them away at the trials at Te Rapa, and she’d be the obvious one to really make her mark in the next couple of weeks,” Galvin said.
“She looks very forward and hopefully she can deliver in the first two-year-old race this year, at Wanganui, the same way that Rubicon Crossing did for us last year.”
Hayate was strapped by Stephanie Hyde-Richards.
Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz
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