Waikato Winning Double - Stand-Out Stonybreck

Racing impeccably, Stonybreck (4 g Tavistock – Fair Isle, by Fastnet Rock) secured the thick end of the wedge after winning the $60,000 Richard Bright Memorial Cup (Rating 75, 1550 metres) on 16 August at Cambridge (poly-track).

The last start course winner was backed as though unbeatable ($1.20) when producing a clinical victory in the 3YO 1550 metres on 26 July, scoring by nearly five lengths, and received similar tote support ($2.00) to remain unbeaten in three starts at Cambridge.

When recording his previous win, Stonybreck became the 198^th in a record-breaking performance by the stable that ended on 203 wins for the season. 

In a well executed ride by Opie Bosson ONZM, Stonybreck settled in midfield before improving to challenge rounding the home turn and although the half length margin was close enough, he appeared to have more in the tank.

It was another compelling victory by a horse going from strength to strength both physically and in attitude to racing, while enhancing his record to five wins, two seconds, and third, from just 11 starts.

“It was another really good win, just over a year since he won on debut at Cambridge, and a lovely ride of Opie’s,” said co-trainer Mark Walker, who with Sam Bergerson celebrated their first win together with Cote de Beaune (Burgundy) on 2 August at Cambridge.

“He’s a horse that Dave (Ellis) bought cheaply out of Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Stud draft at Karaka, and he’s got an unbeaten record on the Cambridge synthetic.

“Stonybreck is continuing to develop as he cottons on to the game with experience and it won’t be his last win, that’s for sure.”

Stonybreck was purchased for $20,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM, from the draft of Pencarrow Stud, at the 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, and owned by Te Akau Northern Scotland Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“He was a bargain from a really good Pencarrow Stud family of Sir Peter Vela, and is beautifully bred,” Ellis said. 

“We were actually so taken with him that I went back the following year, in 2022, and bought his half-sister by the Triple Crown winner Justify. 

“We had a good look at her and really liked what we saw. She cost a bit more, $190,000, but she's from a family with deep black type pedigree and quality. 

“Named Star of Justice, she recorded a strong trials' win in April at Avondale, and stuck to the task very well for second at the trials on 1 August at Te Rapa.”

By Tavistock (Montjeu), a noted sire of international Derby winners that added terrific quality to the New Zealand stallion ranks, Stonybreck is from a mare by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill) who won over 1600 metres in Australia.

Stonybreck has a mouth-watering dam line: grand-dam Miss Scarlatti (Stravinsky) won a listed race and also strung together second placed finishes in the Norman Robinson (Gr. 3, 2000m), Wakefield Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), and VRC Oaks (Gr. 1, 2500m) in the space of three starts as a three-year-old.

Miss Scarlatti's half-sister, Abidewithme (Redoute’s Choice), was trained by Te Akau to record nine wins, including the Travis Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m), Tauranga Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m), and three times Group One placed. 

Third dam Crimson (Zabeel), an impressive winner and Third Top Filly on the NZ 3YO Free Handicaps, was trained by Jim Gibbs before transferring to Bart Cummings during the latter stages of her career. 

Crimson went on to produce outstanding form through the spring, winning the Waikato Guineas (Gr. 3, 1600m) and finishing second in the Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2000m), before victory in the Grosvenor Championship Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m) at Ellerslie. 

Crimson left winners of fourteen races, while her dam, Bourbon Lassie (Mellay) also produced the stallion Omnicorp (Grosvenor).

Stonybreck was strapped by Stephanie Hyde-Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz