Weaponry Wins the Guineas' War

Unlucky in two lead-up Guineas races, Weaponry (3 g Declaration of War - Cat Shmea, by Felix the Cat) capped a successful Southern sojourn with a dominant win in the $50,000 ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (Listed, 1600m) on 16 February at Invercargill.

He became the 12^thstakes' winner in a total of 66 wins for Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards this season, levelling him at the top of the premiership and leading the way in prize money. Richards had produced Champion mare Melody Belle (Commands) to win the BCD Group Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m) a week earlier at Te Rapa - her fourth Group One victory and third this season. 

Weaponry headed South after making the perfect start to his racing career, two wins from two starts, before finishing third in the Gore Guineas (Listed, 1335m) and denied room when fourth in the Dunedin Guineas (Listed, 1500m) on 2 February at Wingatui. 

Ridden by Dylan Turner, Weaponry worked across outside the leader before steadying for cover midrace. He appeared to travel best when pressing to lead at the 500m and outstayed his two closest rivals to win by one and a half lengths.

“It was a positive ride by Dylan (Turner) and a really good win by the horse,” said Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards. 

“He'd been a little bit unlucky in his two runs down there (South Island) to date and we didn't want to be unlucky again. In the end he won quite convincingly and was able to put a space in them over the concluding stages. 

“He's a horse that's shown ability in the North (Island) and we thought he was nicely placed down there, so it is rewarding to gain a black type win.

“Terry and Debbie Kennedy have done a great job looking after the horse, between his three races, at Wingatui, and Dad (Paul Richards) has put in plenty of travel for a couple of the Guineas' races.”

Richards said Weaponry would now come home and have a spell. 

“He's been here about five or six weeks and is a nice horse and he'll only get better the older he gets, I think” said Terry Kennedy.

“I said to Jamie (Richards) during the week, you won't get him much better for today. He's very well, but I only did what I was told to do each day in his work. 

“He won very easily and Dylan (Turner) said he's still learning but got a lot of ability. The mile was perfect and I think he'll get further as well.”

Although a debut winner on Slow7, Weaponry was a market drifter to pay $3.60 & $1.40 yet appeared quite comfortable given Slow8. An efficiency which could be attributed to dam sire Felix the Cat (Storm Cat) whose progeny have been known to appreciate rain-affected going. 

Establishing a terrific record, Weaponry has now won three of his five starts. 

From the draft of Curraghmore Stud, Weaponry was purchased by David Ellis for $140,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, and owned by the Te Akau Weaponry Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“With 66 wins this season, Jamie is first equal with a fantastic stable of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, which is incredible for a young guy still in his twenties. He is placing the horses astutely, running the stable intelligently, and Weaponry is a good example of the right horse to take to the South Island and contest the Guineas races' and he's done a great job," said David Ellis.

“I thought Weaponry won quite impressively and it was a nice ride by Dylan Turner. 

“Being able to win 12 stakes races by the middle of February is not easily achieved and I'm thrilled for the owners. These results don't happen by accident; they happen through the dedication of the staff and we're very lucky at Te Akau to have such a good team and I congratulate them on these results. 

“The horse was bred by friends of ours, Shelley Frost and her late mother (Raywyn Ramage) of Braided River Thoroughbreds. We love buying horses from breeders that support us and they have been brilliant people to train for.”

Speaking from Ellerslie Racecourse, Ellis was also complimentary of the performances by both In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) and Prise De Fer (Savabeel) in the $100,000 Schwepps Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m).

“I was thrilled with the way our two Derby horses went today,” he said. “In A Twinkling showed enormous courage for second from the outside draw and was coming back at the line, I thought, and Prise De Fer also went a terrific race. 

“The Derby might come up too soon for Prise De Fer, I'm not sure, but he's certainly going to be a lovely Cups' horse in races like the Waikato and Auckland Cups next year. Those races could be ideal for him. Opie (Bosson) thought he went very well today, as he didn't get out when he wanted to.”

Weaponry was strapped by Debbie Kennedy.   

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