Winner: Perlino Stakes' Perfect

Continuing to grow in stature, Perlino (3 f Super Seth – Palomino, by Exceed and Excel) won the $80,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) on Saturday at Riccarton. 

Having registered the 100th win this season for premiership leading trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 21 March at Riccarton, Perlino had subsequently finished strongly for third in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) on 11 April, as a lead-up to the Warstep, and was ideally drawn (2) to rate a top three chance. 

A filly that had displayed tough qualities to win three of her last five starts, including a Maiden over 1600 metres by seven and a half lengths, there were some concerns regarding a step up in distance, which were certainly dispelled with the performance. 

Although not brilliantly away, Perlino recovered to travel in midfield for Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz, looked to have plenty in reserves when behind runners turning for home, and once a split appeared inside the 400m she quickened appreciably to win easily. 

With a one and a half length buffer at the line, Perlino ran 2000 metres in 2:03.1, last 600m in 35.1 (approx.), on footing upgraded to Soft5, and was confidently backed by punters to pay $2.40 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Following the win, assistant trainer Hunter Durrant, who manages the Riccarton stable for Te Akau, said: “It was a really cool, calm, and collected, ride by Bruno (Queiroz), although probably a few pairs further back than we expected, but he got the gap and she was too good.

“They went quite hard in front, so I wasn’t too worried, and she’s a quality filly going forward and I’d like to say thank you to the team down here, they’ve done a great job this season and long may it continue.”

A prestigious race, the Warstep Stakes is also linked to Te Akau through the deeds of 2012 winner Asavant (Zabeel), a mare whose second foal, Avantage (Fastnet Rock), was bought as a yearling by David Ellis for $210,000 at Karaka, and she went on to win nine Group One races, $2.1 million in prize money, before selling for $4.1 million.

“It was a great win,” said Walker, ahead of saddling Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith) to win the A$1 million Group 1 Sportsbet Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).

“Perlino was a filly that struggled initially at the trials, to the point that we thought she could be a bit limited, but we decided to give her a change of scene at our stables at Riccarton, and she’s grown a leg being down South.

“It’s mainly through maturity, but also growing in confidence and enjoying the competition of racing, and that’s the beauty of having Hunter (Durrant) and a really good team of staff that we have there.

“She looks an absolute picture of health and has done a wonderful job for her owners, having only begun racing in December, to have now won a really good stakes race.”

Owned by the Te Akau Etched in Gold Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Perlino was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $120,000 at the Karaka 2024 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud. 

“We’ve had an incredible day, with three wins at Te Rapa, including a really exciting two-year-old on debut, System Of Play (Ole Kirk), plus Drops Of God (Hello Youmzain) in the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), and for Perlino to win the Listed Warstep Stakes for the South Island team is a great thrill too,” Ellis said.

“Perlino is by a terrific Waikato Stud sire, Super Seth (Dundeel), now sold to stand at Coolmore in Australia, and it was certainly one of the reasons why we bought her, plus the dam side blood is very strong, being out of a mare by Exceed and Excel and the grand-dam by Champion Broodmare Sire Encosta de Lago.”

Dam Palomino (Exceed and Excel) is a half-sister to stakes winner Malice (Teofilo), from the family of four-time Group One winner Criterion (Sebring) and Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock).

Perlino has a bloodline cross of breed shaping sire Danehill (Danzig), on the dam line of Super Seth and sire line Palomino. 

“She’s come a long way in a short time, Perlino, and I think that the way she won this race today indicates that she should keep developing in a really good middle distance mare next season,” Ellis added.

“The stable has gone to 114 wins for the season, including 18 stakes wins, with over $7.7 million in prize money, and both Karyn and I are very proud of how much the team is putting in to make it all a success.

“We’re still looking to sell some shares in yearlings we’ve bought this year in New Zealand and Australia, and it certainly helps when we have such remarkable days as this one in racing.”

Perlino was strapped by Peter Van Rooyen.

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