Winner: Charmrose Wins Again

Making it three victories from six starts this season, Charmrose (5 m Charm Spirit – Sovereign Rose, by Pins) produced a strong all-the-way win in the $55,000 Elsdon Park Open Handicap 1200 metres on Saturday at Ellerslie. 

After resuming with victory over 1100 metres on the course in October, Charmrose backed up winning her next start over 1200 metres at Tauranga, and was most recently expertly handled by stable rider Opie Bosson to win the Rating 75 1200 metres on 20 March at Pukekohe.

Ridden on this occasion by Craig Grylls, who had previously won the mare, Charmrose began smartly from barrier seven to lead, steadied to dictate terms, and after establishing a three-length advantage inside the 300m she kept up a strong gallop to win.

“She’s shown what she can do in the past and she’s a classy horse with a good record, so first time in Open grade, but she dropped down in weight and the plan was to be positive,” Grylls said.

“She found a good kick and I felt I had them covered, but she was starting to wobble over the last 50 metres.”

On Soft5 footing, Charmrose ran 1200 metres in 1:11.0, last 600m in 35.2, and paid $4.80 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was another really good win by Charmrose and a good ride of Gryllsy’s to control the speed up front,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“He was able to get away with some softer sectionals through the mid-stages and quickened to a decent winning advantage in the straight.”

Bred and owned by Dave & Nicky Hurst, and now the winner of five races to 1200 metres, Charmrose is out of Sovereign Rose (Pins), who was purchased for them by David Ellis CNZM as a yearling at Karaka, and she won four times from 1600m – 2100m.

“It’s great for Dave & Nicky, they bred Charmrose and they’re getting a lot of fun out of racing her,” Walker added.

“She’s developed a really good record at Ellerslie, now proved herself a winner in Open Handicap grade, and should keep on improving for a while yet.”

Like Charmrose, Sovereign Rose recorded her first win as a four-year-old and carried on winning until she was six.

Sovereign Rose is from Pavan (Centaine), who finished second to million-dollar earner Tycoon Lil (Last Tycoon) in the 1998 Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), and also runner-up in the Australian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2000m). 

Pavan left seven individual winners of 31 races, including eight-time winner Yours (Van Nistelrooy), while also being a half-sister to talented stakes winning mare Felenic (Cape Cross).

The family has also left top Australian galloper Spacecraft (Star Way), winner of ten races.

“It was great to see Charmrose win again for Dave and Nicky Hurst, who great friends and farmers, and been with Te Akau for a long time,” Ellis said. 

“The first syndicate they came into was King’s Chapel, who won the equivalent race that is now the Karaka Millions, the 2000 Guineas, Telegraph, three Group One races, and was New Zealand Horse of the Year as a three year old, before going on to stand at stud.

“They were also in one of our Champion Two-Year-Olds, Maroofity, who won three Group One races, and Costa Viva who won the 1000 Guineas and became New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year.

“The team is going really well and we’re so proud of the way that Sam (Bergerson) and Reece (Trumper) are running the team at Matamata, when Mark (Walker) is leading our stable in Melbourne.

“Sam and Reece are two young guys that are incredibly dedicated, and I doubt that any young trainer has come into the game and trained over 100 winners in each of his first three seasons, like Sam has. 

“We had our 13th two-year-old winner when Timeless Beauty (Wootton Bassett) won yesterday at Te Rapa, and Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) and Seize The Day (I Am Invincible) won the only two juvenile Group One races, so it’s been another good season with the two-year-olds and we’re always looking to buy horses with the scope to train on, so it’s exciting for next season too.”

Charmrose was strapped by Rhiannon Smith. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz